French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday visited the Egyptian port city of El-Arish, a critical transit hub for humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, as he urged Israel to lift restrictions that have severely limited access to the besieged Palestinian territory.
During his visit, Macron met with sick and injured Palestinians, medical personnel, and aid workers. The trip underscores France’s efforts to intensify international pressure on Israel to allow the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where the situation has grown increasingly dire amid ongoing hostilities.
“The situation today is intolerable, and it has never been so serious,” Macron told reporters in El-Arish, located approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Gaza. “We call for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid.”
Macron also strongly condemned a recent Israeli strike that killed 15 aid workers in Gaza. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that autopsies revealed the victims were shot in the upper body, suggesting they were deliberately targeted. The Israeli military has announced an in-depth investigation into the incident.
The French president’s visit comes amid mounting international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where limited access to food, medical supplies, and other essential aid has exacerbated civilian suffering.
