Latest news with #FranceInter
Leaders
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Leaders
France Urges Israel to Allow Independent Press into Gaza Strip
France called on the Israeli government to allow independent and foreign press into Gaza Strip amid mounting concerns of famine after 21 months of war, according to Le Monde. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed the need of allowing free press into the besieged Strip to 'show what is happening there and to bear witness,' during an interview from eastern Ukraine. 'Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists,' Barrot said. He also noted that the Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with were in danger. Thus, he urged Israel to allow them and their families to leave Gaza. When asked whether France would take a step to evacuate them, Barrot said that France was 'addressing the issue.' 'In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world,' it said. But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families,' he added. Call for Immediate Ceasefire Moreover, Barrot called for an 'immediate ceasefire' after Israel announced on Monday the expansion of its military operations to the central city of Deir El-Balah. 'There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza,' he said. He also described the move as 'an offensive' that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and 'cause new forced displacements of populations.' Move toward Recognition of Palestinian State In May, Barrot said that France was 'determined' to recognize a Palestinian State and condemned Israel's 'indefensible' situation in Gaza. 'We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of violence and hatred. So, all this must stop,' Barrot told France Inter radio. Moreover, French President Emmanuel Macron also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of committing 'shameful and disgraceful,' actions in Gaza. In a special television appearance broadcast on the TF1 channel, Macron noted that it is not for Netanyahu to decide whether this constitutes genocide, but rather for historians. 'What Benjamin Netanyahu's government is doing today in Gaza is unacceptable. It is shameful and disgraceful,' Macron said. During the interview, Macron stated that he was 'one of the few leaders who visited the Egypt-Gaza border.' He also described the situation as 'one of the most distressing sights I've ever witnessed.' Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Israel Kills Dozens of Palestinians at Aid Site in Gaza Moroccans Call for End to Gaza War, Reversal of Normalization Deal Trump, Qatari PM to Discuss Gaza Deal at White House Short link :
LBCI
11 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
France FM urges foreign press access to Gaza
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday urged Israel to allow foreign press into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, as warnings of famine mount after 21 months of war. "I ask that the free and independent press be allowed to access Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness," he told France Inter radio in an interview from eastern Ukraine.
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
France's top diplomat calls for foreign press access to Gaza
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) called on Israel to allow foreign press into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, as warnings of famine mount after 21 months of war. He spoke after the AFP news agency warned that the lives of Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with in Gaza were in danger and urged Israel to allow them and their families to leave the occupied coastal territory. "I ask that the free and independent press be allowed to access Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness," Barrot told France Inter radio in an interview from eastern Ukraine. Asked if France would help AFP stringers leave Gaza, Mr. Barrot said France was "addressing the issue" and hoped to be able to evacuate freelancers working with French journalists "in the coming weeks". On Monday, an association of journalists at AFP called the Société des Journalistes (Society of Journalists) sounded the alarm, urging "immediate intervention" to help reporters working with the agency in Gaza. The SDJ cited the example of one such freelancer, a 30-year-old living with his family in Gaza City, who reported on Sunday that his older brother "fell because of hunger". "We have lost journalists in conflicts, we have had injuries and prisoners in our ranks, but none of us can remember seeing a colleague die of starvation," it said. AFP management responded in a statement posted on X and Instagram, which said that it shared the anguish about the "dire situation" of colleagues in Gaza. "Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists. "In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world," it said. "But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families." AFP evacuated its eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024. Mr. Barrot called for an "immediate ceasefire" after Israel on Monday expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. "There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza," he said. "This is an offensive that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and cause new forced displacements of populations, which we condemn in the strongest terms."
Middle East Eye
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
France demands media access to Gaza, slams Israel's expanded military campaign
France has called for independent journalists to be allowed into Gaza to report on conditions inside the besieged enclave, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday. Speaking to France Inter radio, Barrot said: 'We hope to get some journalist staff out in the coming weeks,' referring to AFP reporters still trapped in Gaza. The French news agency earlier described their situation as 'untenable,' with the Society of Journalists (SDJ) warning: 'We risk seeing them die.' An AFP statement said staff are enduring unbearable conditions despite showing 'exemplary courage and resilience.' The SDJ added: 'We have lost colleagues to war and imprisonment, but never to hunger.' Barrot, speaking from Kyiv, also strongly condemned the latest Israeli assault on Gaza. 'This offensive will only deepen the catastrophe,' he said. France renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
France's top diplomat calls for foreign press access to Gaza
PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday called on Israel to allow foreign press into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, as warnings of famine mount after 21 months of war. He spoke after the AFP news agency warned that the lives of Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with in Gaza were in danger and urged Israel to allow them and their families to leave the occupied coastal territory. "I ask that the free and independent press be allowed to access Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness," Barrot told France Inter radio in an interview from eastern Ukraine. Asked if France would help AFP stringers leave Gaza, Barrot said France was "addressing the issue" and hoped to be able to evacuate freelancers working with French journalists "in the coming weeks." On Monday, an association of journalists at AFP called the Societe des Journalistes (Society of Journalists) sounded the alarm, urging "immediate intervention" to help reporters working with the agency in Gaza. The SDJ cited the example of one such freelancer, a 30-year-old living with his family in Gaza City, who reported on Sunday that his older brother "fell because of hunger." "We have lost journalists in conflicts, we have had injuries and prisoners in our ranks, but none of us can remember seeing a colleague die of starvation," it said. AFP management responded in a statement posted on X and Instagram which said that it shared the anguish about the "dire situation" of colleagues in Gaza. "Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists. "In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world," it said. "But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families." AFP evacuated its eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024. Barrot called for an "immediate ceasefire" after Israel on Monday expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. "There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza," he said. "This is an offensive that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and cause new forced displacements of populations, which we condemn in the strongest terms."
