Alexis Delafontaine with AFP / Photo credit: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
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7:11 p.m., October 23, 2023
France is calling for a “humanitarian truce” to allow the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip, which “could lead to a ceasefire,” Élisabeth Borne declared Monday before the National Assembly. “The opening of the Rafah crossing point is still very limited. We call for the Rafah gate to be opened to allow new crossings” of aid, declared the Prime Minister to the deputies. “The distribution of aid requires a humanitarian truce which could lead to a ceasefire,” added Élisabeth Borne.
A “just response” to “terrorism”
In front of a sparse hemicycle, the French Prime Minister also called on Israel “not to fall into the trap of Hamas” and to provide a “just response” to “terrorism” after the attacks of October 7. “Even in the hardest, most bitter battles, we must never lose sight of what makes us democracies: our values, respect for the rule of law, such as international humanitarian law,” warned Elisabeth. Thick headed. In her speech, the head of government also wanted to recall the historic relations between France and the Palestinians. “She is the friend of Israel, the friend of the Palestinians and she is the friend of the Arab countries of the region. It is an independent position that we have always assumed,” she said.
Elisabeth Borne also estimated that “minimising, justifying or even exonerating terrorism means accepting that it will strike again tomorrow, in Israel, in France or anywhere else”. “We must not show any ambiguity in the face of such crimes,” she said, while La France insoumise (LFI), the party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is strongly criticized for not having qualified Hamas as a “terrorist”. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne affirmed on Monday her “support and that of (her) government” for the President of the Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet, after the “ignoble accusations” of Jean-Luc Mélenchon against her. On Sunday, the rebellious leader accused Yaël Braun-Pivet of “encouraging the massacre” in Gaza by going to Israel.
“Stop this deadly escalation”
After the Prime Minister, the president of the Insoumis group Mathilde Panot urged France to “use all its weight to allow the adoption of a resolution demanding a ceasefire to stop this deadly escalation.” “France, once the voice of peace throughout the world, has in your hands become an aligned state. Aligned with the United States and the far-right Israeli government,” Mathilde also launched. Panot in an electric atmosphere.
The different political groups and the presidents of the Foreign Affairs and European Affairs committees must also speak in the hemicycle, before the debates are closed, without a vote, by the government. Emmanuel Macron will travel to Tel Aviv on Tuesday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.