French Foreign Minister visits Israel to seek diplomatic channels to ease tensions in the Middle East
On October 7, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna made a significant visit to Israel, seeking to ease the escalating tensions in the Middle East through diplomatic means.
In her discussions with Israeli leaders, including Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Colonna stressed the vital importance of diplomacy in addressing the ongoing crisis. She underscored France’s commitment to facilitating a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, aiming to prevent the situation from worsening. Colonna emphasized that Israel’s security can ultimately be secured through diplomatic avenues.
Moreover, Colonna attended a memorial service honoring the victims of the recent Hamas attacks in Israel. During the event, she expressed France’s solidarity with the Israeli people while advocating for the release of hostages. The attacks on October 7, perpetrated by Hamas, tragically claimed the lives of around 1,200 individuals, with roughly 250 hostages taken to Gaza.
In retaliation, Israel initiated extensive military operations in Gaza. Data from the Gaza Health Ministry released on October 6 indicates that these operations have resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian fatalities.
French media has highlighted that Colonna has been actively engaging with various Middle Eastern countries over the past week, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, to discuss the regional situation. She is also scheduled to visit the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian officials.
