Macron urges Netanyahu on 'absolute necessity' of Gaza ceasefire
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The French president calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during talks with Netanyahu, as global leaders push for a resolution.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their conversation on Wednesday the critical and urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on X that he "reiterated to the Prime Minister [Netanyahu] the absolute necessity of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza," while also emphasizing that securing the release of all captives in Gaza, ensuring the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, and advancing a political "two-state solution" remain top priorities for resolving the struggle.
Macron further stressed that during his conversation with Netanyahu, he underscored the critical need to uphold the existing ceasefire agreement with Iran, which had brought an end to the 12-day unprovoked war "Israel" launched on Iran allegedly over its nuclear program.
However, the French president did not forget to express shared concerns with Netanyahu, saying, "We share the same objective: that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons."
He even went as far as bringing forth a new issue to be raised, Iran's ballistic missiles program, as he said, "To ensure this over time, I stressed the need to return to negotiations on both nuclear and ballistic issues."
Progress is being made on Gaza ceasefire: Trump
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that significant progress was being made toward ending the war in Gaza, as renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire gained momentum more than 20 months into the Israeli war on Gaza.
Trump told reporters, ahead of a NATO summit in the Netherlands, "I think great progress is being made on Gaza," while revealing that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had informed him "Gaza is very close." Trump connected his expectation of imminent "very good news" to the recent ceasefire between "Israel" and Iran.
Key mediator Qatar announced on Tuesday its intention to initiate a fresh diplomatic effort to secure a ceasefire.
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu confirmed the development, telling AFP that their communications with Egyptian and Qatari mediators had not ceased and had in fact increased significantly in recent hours.
However, al-Nunu clarified that the group had "not been presented with any updated proposals" to end the war.
Hamas blames Netanyahu for negotiations collapse
Hamas announced on June 25 that it remains engaged with mediators and open to negotiations, but stressed that any agreement must guarantee three key demands: an immediate end to aggression, a lasting ceasefire, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The Palestinian faction accused the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, of obstructing international mediation efforts, while Gaza continues to endure a suffocating siege and unrelenting bombardment, in a war that began on October 7, 2023, and has since killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced nearly the entire population, and reduced much of the territory to ruins.
