From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Macron warns Netanyahu: Forced Rafah population transfer would constitute ‘a war crime’
French President Emmanuel Macron warns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any forced transfer of people from the southern Gaza city of Rafah would constitute “a war crime.”
He also repeats his opposition to any Israel Defense Forces operation to fight Hamas in Rafah, where most of Gaza’s population has taken shelter after months of fierce fighting, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
In a telephone call between the two leaders, Macron also “strongly condemns” Israel’s announcement Friday of the appropriation of 800 hectares of land in the West Bank for new settlements.
Activists say Israel’s declaration that the land in the northern Jordan Valley is now “state land” is the single largest such seizure in decades.
In the call, Macron tells Netanyahu he intended to bring a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire.”
He also urges Israel to immediately open all crossing points into Gaza.
The planned Rafah ground offensive has faced intense international pressure, with warnings it would cause mass civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian crisis. Israel insists it is necessary in its campaign to destroy Hamas.
