Egyptian, Jordanian, French officials push for Gaza ceasefire
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The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and France on Saturday again called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war to ensure an influx of aid into the embattled Gaza Strip.
During talks in Cairo, the ministers discussed the importance of an immediate ceasefire, aid deliveries and the release of hostages kept in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told a press conference after the meeting.
Shoukry added that he had also discussed with French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné and their Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi the risks of a planned Israeli ground offensive in Gaza's city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.
More than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the coastal enclave.
Séjourné said that France opposes any military action in Rafah.
France's top diplomat also called for opening land crossings to give Gaza access to adequate relief aid and for the "immediate and unconditional" release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Jordanian minister accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon in the war, calling for a binding UN Security Council resolution to stop what he called the "starvation crime."
Israel has been pursuing its massive onslaught in the sealed-off Gaza Strip after the unprecedented massacre led by Hamas militants in Israel on October 7.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between Hamas and Israel for weeks to facilitate a ceasefire deal and the exchange of hostages.
