He wants more help for Gazans. French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to open a second "crossing point" between Israel and the Gaza Strip, at Kerem Shalom, to deliver aid that Palestinian civilians "urgently need."
The UN's humanitarian chief on Thursday spoke of "promising signs" of the "soon" opening of the crossing, which would be added to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
In a telephone conversation, "the President of the Republic recalled the need to protect civilians in Gaza and stressed the importance of reaching a lasting ceasefire," the Elysée Palace said. He also "reiterated that Israel must take the necessary steps to end settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank."
Calls for a "ceasefire"
Since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on 7 October, at least 264 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers, according to a Palestinian Authority tally.
Read alsoIsrael-Hamas war: how the IDF uses artificial intelligence to pound Gaza
Emmanuel Macron had called last Saturday to "redouble efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire", after the end of a first truce. He also warned Israel that its goal of "total destruction of Hamas," decreed after the Islamist organization's unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, must be "specified" because its accomplishment could require "ten years" of war.
The French president reiterated "France's attachment to Israel's security" and its "solidarity" in "its fight against terrorism." He also insisted on the "absolute priority" of the release of all hostages still held by Hamas, including four French nationals.