French FM calls for end to Israeli settler violence in Occupied Territories

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné has said that Israeli "settler violence must stop" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has doubled-down on Israel's resolve to "deal a fatal blow" against Hamas and Iran-backed militant groups in the region. 

France's top diplomat, Stephane Séjourné, addresses a press conference in Jerusalem on 5 February, 2024, during his first Middle East trip as foreign minister. © GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP

Speaking during the second day of a Middle East tour aimed at securing a truce between Israel and Hamas, Séjourné said: "Under no circumstances can there be forced displacement of Palestinians, neither out of Gaza nor out of the West Bank."

While in Jerusalem, the French minister denounced anti-Palestinian rhetoric and "calls to commit war crimes" by Israeli officials, after some Netanyahu allies have appeared to endorse Jewish re-settlement of the Gaza Strip after the war.

Séjourné also called for support for the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, led by president Mahmud Abbas.

• Cutting UN funds to Gaza puts 'hundreds of thousands' at risk, says EU

"The future of the Gaza Strip is inseparable from the future of the West Bank, we must prepare for this future by supporting the Palestinian Authority," Séjourné said. 

"It must renew itself and redeploy as soon as possible in the Gaza Strip," where Hamas seized power in 2007, he added.

"I repeat: Gaza is Palestinian land," the foreign minister stressed, during what is his first tour of the region since being named as France's top diplomat in January.

Political solution

Séjourné said it was France’s role as a "friend" to tell Israeli leaders some truths they "may have difficulties hearing".

"For four months now, the people of Gaza have been living under bombs and an almost full siege. They are being deprived of the minimum aid they need to treat their wounds, protect against epidemics and feed themselves," he said.

Séjourné also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Three French nationals are believed to be among them, he said. 

On Sunday, Séjourné met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, and Ayman Safadi, Jordan's foreign minister, in Amman, where he conveyed the message: "Without a political solution, there will be no just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

Échanges nourris avec le Ministre des Affaires étrangères de l’Égypte Sameh Choukri.

Nous continuons à nous mobiliser pour la libération des otages et coopérons ensemble pour répondre à l’urgence humanitaire à Gaza. pic.twitter.com/ErSyZHQIWZ

— Stéphane Séjourné (@steph_sejourne) February 4, 2024

'Fatal blow' to Hamas, Iran allies

The visit comes as Netanyahu underlined that an Israeli victory against Hamas will deal a "fatal blow" to the Palestinian militants and other Iran-backed groups in the region.

"A complete victory will deal a fatal blow to the axis of evil that is Iran, Hezbollah, the Huthis and of course Hamas," Netanyahu said in an address to army commanders on Monday.

Netanyahu also added that Hamas has presented "demands that we will not accept" over hostages held in Gaza.

According to a statement from Netanhayu's Likud party, the terms for the release of remaining captives "should be similar to the previous agreement", which saw a ratio of hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a November truce.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the 8104th Battalion of the 179th Brigade, at the IDF Armored Corps Memorial at Latrun: "The essence of our policy – total victory over Hamas."https://t.co/9Wwldb4AYp pic.twitter.com/BmoSBtXqDJ

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 5, 2024

Blinken on 5th diplomatic mission to Middle East

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, for the first stop on his latest Middle East tour, as Washington tries to advance negotiations on a normalisation deal between the kingdom and Israel, and make push for talks on a post-war solution for Gaza's governance.

This is Blinken's fifth trip to the region since Hamas’ deadly 7 October attacks and comes as tensions rise amid US strikes on Iran-backed militia across Syria, Iraq and Yemen in response to a drone strike last week in Jordan that killed three American troops and wounded dozens.

Blinken is also set to visit Egypt, Qatar and Israel this week and push to advance their mediation with Hamas to clinch a hostage deal.