France – The French presidency announced that Paris is “considering taking other measures” to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers “guilty of committing acts of violence against Palestinian civilians” in the West Bank.
The French presidency said in a statement following a phone call between President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan that “with regard to the West Bank, the two leaders strongly condemned the recent Israeli announcements in the field of settlements, which contradict international law.”
She added that Macron “mentioned that first measures had been taken against settlers guilty of committing acts of violence against Palestinian civilians, and that France was studying other measures in consultation with its partners.”
Last February, Paris said it had adopted “sanctions” against 28 “extremist Israeli settlers” guilty of “committing acts of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.” These 28 individuals are “targeted by an administrative ban” that prevents them from entering French territory, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Last week, the European Union imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers and two groups of “extremist” Israeli activists due to violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
On the other hand, Macron and Abdullah II discussed “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza” and “expressed their deep concern about the possibility of an Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than 1.5 million people have taken refuge, and renewed their opposition to this operation.”
The French presidency added, “Both stressed the necessity of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in order to allow the delivery of emergency aid on a large scale and to protect the civilian population.”
Macron also stated that “the release of the hostages held by Hamas is an absolute priority for France.”
Source: Agence France-Presse
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2024-04-26 19:08:35