Gaza war: Any forced transfer of people from Rafah would be war crime, says Macron
File photo of French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (right).
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (Mar 24) told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any forced transfer of people from the war-torn Gaza Strip's Rafah would constitute "a war crime." In a statement, French President Macron's office said that he held a telephonicconversation with Netanyahu during whichhe "strongly condemned" Israel's announcement of seizing 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank for new settlements.
Macron told the Israeli Prime Minister that he intended to bring a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for "an immediate and lasting ceasefire," his office said. The French president also reiterated his position on any Israeli military operation to fight Hamas in Rafah and urged the Netanyahu government to immediately open all crossing points into Gaza.
Also read |Biden assures Netanyahu US not trying to push him out amid tensions over Rafah assault plan
Most of Gaza's population has taken shelter in Rafah after months of fierce fighting in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israeli air strike kills seven in Rafah
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Macron's remarks came as an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah killed seven people. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, resident Hassan Zanoun said, "As you can see the destruction and devastation. They say Rafah is a safe area and instruct people to come here, so displaced people come to us."
Zanoun, whose family narrowly escaped being crushed under the rubble during the strike, added, "The Israeli planes hit the neighbours’ house and the house where we were staying was damaged and we almost died in it. This is what they call security and safety, they are moving us like a cat and its kittens."
Also watch |Netanyahu tells Blinken Israel will 'do it alone' in Rafah push
Since the war between Israel and Hamas started in early October last year, more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
Israel has claimed that Rafah is the last bastion for Hamas militants and that it has a plan to evacuate civilians before an attack, though it has not shared one publicly.
(With inputs from agencies)