LIVE: French Foreign Minister Colonna Gives Statement in Beirut

I was in Cairo this morning and now in Beirut I went to the request of the president of the French Republic because the situation is disturbing and even, let's say, dangerous at the end of this three-day detour I want to launch here a call for responsibility and mastery I was in Israel yesterday, because thousands of civilians were victims of abominable terrorist acts that nothing can justify. Israel has suffered a terrorist attack unprecedented in its history, an offensive that leaves little doubt about the fact that it was prepared, orchestrated, planned. In addition to the executions and the massacres, because there were massacres, in addition to our 19 French people killed in these terrorist attacks, men, women, children were taken hostage, including probably several of our compatriots. We urgently demand the release of all hostages, without delay and without condition. In this terrible drama, France stands on the side of Israel, which has the right to defend itself in respect of international law, and taking into account, of course, the protection of civilians. Civilian populations are not responsible for the situation. We must be careful not to confuse Hamas with the entire Palestinian population. And I add that I mentioned this need with all my interlocutors in Israel as well as in Egypt. I announced to CAIR an aid of 10 million euros, 10 million euros, in favor of the United Nations, UNRWA, PAM, CICR and humanitarian NGOs, for the direct benefit of the populations of Gaza. And beyond that, efforts are underway, you know, to open a humanitarian corridor so that the aid of the United Nations can be carried out by AFA and reach the populations after the necessary checks. This aid is ready. It must now be able to pass. And it is an emergency. And finally, I say this with solemnity, all civilians must be able to leave Gaza if they wish to do so. And on its part, Hamas cannot take a whole population hostage. So, humanitarian access, protection of civilians, respect of humanitarian law. The emergency is first of all there. It is first of all humanitarian. But it is also, of course, diplomatic. Diplomatic and imperious. And it is to do everything to avoid the embracement. I have already expressed myself on this subject many times. I indicated that it was the main reason for this trip to the Middle East, to contribute to avoid an embracement that can harm the whole region. France has been working on this since the first day. It is multiplying contacts with the actors of the region, with its partners in the European Union, with the United States of America as well. And it is passing all the necessary messages and wishes that the messages addressed by each other are converging. And in this objective. And it is also, of course, for this reason that I am in Lebanon this afternoon. I came to recall our attachment to Lebanon, to recall our support for the stability of the country, but also to say, and to say in the clearest terms, that no group should think that it can try to be part of the situation. This message is clear. The Lebanese leaders also have a responsibility in this regard, to prevent Lebanon from being dragged into an embracement, an embracement that will not rise. Ladies and gentlemen, it is their responsibility, their reason, their control. An embracement that occurs in a deliberate or involuntary way will not benefit anyone, neither to the population nor to any country in the Arab world and beyond. France is taking the current situation very seriously, I repeat, and faithful to its vocation, it will make no effort to avoid the embracement, to restore a horizon of peace also because it is necessary, and that this horizon is essential to the safety of all. This is the message I would like to pass on to you, after having spoken with a number of interlocutors, and not only to have to express this concern, but to have to formulate this call for the greatest responsibility. We have to do it, we have to do it now, and we have to do it in a converging way, and that all our efforts are aimed at this end. You may have a few questions, I will answer briefly because I have to leave Lebanon for another country. Madam, you wanted to ask a question earlier, I gave you an appointment here. No condemnation of the massacres committed by the Israeli army against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Madam, you probably misheard me, so I would like to repeat that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the duty to do so in respect of international law, and in particular of international humanitarian law. This means taking into account, among other things, the protection of the populations. Madam. Wait, the microphone, if you don't mind, we will give it to you, it will allow everyone to hear you. Hello, Hélène Salon du Monde. I would like to ask about the opening of the Rafah crossing point. With help coming in and out of both nationalities and foreigners, what happened? Why wasn't there an opening of the Rafah crossing point? Minister Choukri said it was because of the Israelis. Is this also your version? And just a small question, do you have an idea of the number of French, Palestinian binationals in Gaza? I am not sure I can answer your first question, Madam, because I am not well positioned to answer you on the reasons or responsibilities. What I know, because this is what I see, like you, is that the UN is making proposals, that they are ready to provide aid, medicines, food, basic necessities, as the civilian populations need them. They are working with the Israeli authorities, with those who can be their interlocutors, with Egypt as well. The United Nations is obviously in the front line, but they have partners in this effort that I have called for. Humanitarian access, protection of civilians, respect for humanitarian law. Unfortunately, the agreement has not yet been reached. It is desirable that it be made as soon as possible. I repeat that there is an emergency, and I have reminded you of the decision that France made to help, to take its share of the aid for the civilian populations of Gaza through the UN and its organizations, and the CICR channel as well. We have French people who are in Gaza, most of whom are in the south of the Gaza Strip, and we hope to be able to see them leave Gaza as soon as possible. I am in contact with my interlocutors. They are, if we count their families, a few dozen, perhaps a little more than a hundred. We have lists, and we have transmitted them, of course, to those who have the right to do so. First and foremost to the United Nations, of course. Sir, wait to have the microphone. It will allow everyone to hear you. Here and there. Good evening. Did you have the opportunity to speak with the Israeli authorities about the security of the journalists operating in the area? As you know, several people died last Friday, and several people died in Gaza. What did the Israeli authorities say? The journalists are, of course, part of the people we ask for protection, respect for their rights, respect for the exercise of their profession, which is often dangerous, and as you mentioned, someone had to lose his life recently. We send these messages in the most open way, during our interviews, publicly as well. I did it yesterday, I did it this morning, and I am doing it again very willingly today. I think, once again, that everyone's efforts must converge to allow both access to humanitarian goods in Gaza, to allow people who wish to leave Gaza to do so, and to allow people who would be in Gaza to live there as long as possible, while respecting their right to protection. Journalists are part of it. Madam, someone had asked a question before. The microphone, if you please. Madam Minister, the French Minister of the Armed Forces has announced that his country provides information to Israel. Does this mean that you are a partner of what the Israeli army does against civilians in Gaza? If not, then why is your silence, that of the international and European community, in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe and the genocide in Gaza? Why, again, do some European countries, and in France as well, prevent all manifestations of support for the Palestinians and punish those who do so? There are very different things in your question, Madam, and words that I will not be able to repeat. I remind you that all this happens after atrocities, murders, massacres, child murders. You know the images like I do. You know what happened. You know what is the responsibility of Hamas, a terrorist organization, in these deaths, and most of the time in the deaths of civilians. Madam, one last question, and I must leave you to join other international obligations. I am from the National Agency for Information. How do you assess the situation in Lebanon? Will Lebanon be able to stay away and avoid tensions and total war? It must, Madam. I repeat, before recalling the message that I transmitted to the Lebanese authorities, our attachment to Lebanon, its stability, and I should have said our affection. You know that it is ancient, that it is constant, and it is necessary that Lebanon, with the help of its friends, does everything possible to stay away from a clutch if it is to occur, so that it does not occur. I will stop here. If you will excuse me, we have other international obligations that I must join. I am already very late. Thank you all. Please help us so that responsibility prevails.