French Foreign Minister Deems Gaza Suffering ‘Unbearable, Unacceptable’ at Boutros Ghali Foundation Symposium

The event comes at a time when Israel started on Tuesday a military incursion into southern Gaza’s Rafah city, currently home to around 1.4 million Palestinians, the majority of whom have been displaced by the ongoing war.

In a recent statement, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French President’s Special Envoy to Lebanon, emphasized the devastating humanitarian impact of the Gaza war on the people, describing their suffering as “unbearable and unacceptable.”

During a symposium on challenges in the Middle East organized by the Kemet Boutros Ghali Foundation in Cairo, former French Minister of Defence (2012-2017) and Foreign Affairs (2017-2022), Le Drian, shared his insights on the topic.

The event was graced by the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and France’s Ambassador to Cairo Eric Chevalier, who were joined by a distinguished gathering including members of the Egyptian and Foreign diplomatic corps, parliamentarians, statesmen, politicians, intellectuals, and representatives from the media.

Rafah concerns

“We are particularly concerned about the situation in Rafah,” Le Drian said.

He reiterated France’s rejection of a large-scale attack on Rafah as stated by French President Emmanuel Macron in his contacts with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Le Drian expressed France’s concerns that such an attack “would create a disastrous humanitarian situation with a new and unjustified dimension.”

He praised efforts made by the states of the region, especially Egypt, to allow the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians.

He also commended the work exerted by the humanitarian actors who “have paid a very high price in this conflict.”

In his opening statement, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kemet Foundation Mamdouh Abbas harshly criticized what he described as “double standards” adopted by the international community in dealing with the Israeli aggression

Abbas highlighted Israel’s violations of international norms and instruments, stressing that the international community did not make “the slightest attempt to curb [Israel’s] brutality.”

Since the war began on 7 October, Israeli forces have killed over 34,700 people, injured more than 78,100, caused extensive damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.

In Rafah, the Israeli operations killed at least 35 Palestinians, including women and children over the past 24 hours.

Establishing Palestinian state

Le Drian affirmed France’s long-standing commitment to promoting the two-state solution as the only political option for long-term stability in the region.

He affirmed that the absence of a Palestinian state has affected the region, and he reminded the world that the Palestinian cause remains central, not only to the Arab population and the Islamic world but also to the West.

He underlined Macron’s full commitment to seeking a way out of the crisis to open the way for a political solution to the Palestinian cause that benefits all stakeholders.

In addition, Le Drian highlighted the need for Israel to respect international humanitarian law and accept the principle of an immediate ceasefire.

He added that this will ultimately allow for the release of hostages and the entry of humanitarian assistance in large quantities without hindrance.

During the event, the participants voiced appreciation for France’s call for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss a draft resolution on an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

They also commended Paris’ support for a truce and an ending to the war and France’s eagerness to see negotiations begin to establish a future Palestinian state.

International transformation

In his speech, Le Drian spoke about the current transformation of the international system and the return of the devastating wars in the Middle East.

He highlighted the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the increasing frequency of violence and tensions between Iran and Israel in recent weeks, and the war in Europe between Russia and Ukraine.

He said that these developments require peace-loving parties to collaborate to find a new vision addressing these issues.

Furthermore, Le Drian praised Egypt’s significant role in various regional crises, including its decisive contribution to joint action against terrorism and its interest in Lebanon’s stability.

He also lauded Egypt’s full commitment to economic development, which depends largely on the stability of the Middle East region.

Moreover, Le Drian shed light on the tensions surrounding and affecting Egypt, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the deterioration of the Red Sea security situation, and the conflicts in Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and Gaza.

Reliable partnership

On a different note, Le Drian affirmed that the relationship between France and Egypt is based on common interests in various areas, including security, culture, la Francophonie, and the economy.

He also underscored the historical and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Furthermore, Le Drian highlighted the strong cultural bonds between the Egyptian and French peoples which date back centuries.

He added that French society is immensely fond of the Egyptian civilization.

Le Drian further stressed that Egypt’s location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa gives it a unique central location.

“For France, Egypt is a leading economic and commercial partner that we can rely on,” he concluded.