United Nations – Israel/Gaza – Visit by Mme Catherine Colonna to the Security Council (24 October 2023)

Mme Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will visit New York on 24 October for an open debate on the Middle East at the United Nations Security Council. There she will reaffirm France’s desire to mobilize the Council on the basis of shared principles: unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’s terrorist attacks against Israel, the release of the hostages, the protection of civilians, compliance by all with international humanitarian law, and the need to make every possible effort to prevent a conflagration in the Middle East.

France will champion the establishment of a humanitarian truce, capable of leading to a ceasefire and necessary for the distribution of aid to the civilian population. The Minister will take part in a dedicated meeting with humanitarian players and the ICRC to address the humanitarian emergency in Gaza. After announcing €10 million in additional humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza last week through the United Nations agencies (UNRWA, WFP), the ICRC and NGOs, France will provide €10 million more in humanitarian aid, including a humanitarian aid plane and additional contributions to the United Nations agencies, as announced by President Macron on 21 October. This will enable basic essentials to be provided, like water, food and medicines. France is ready to increase this effort and will seek to ensure this aid can meet the needs of civilians in the long term.

Mme Colonna will hold meetings with several of her counterparts, including Mr Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Ayman Safadi, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

France will recall its commitment to the prospect of two States living side by side within secure, recognized borders in line with internationally agreed parameters.