French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is on a solidarity visit to Israel, met with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and the ministers of the War Cabinet. Colonna also visited the military rabbinate's Shura camp, where all the bodies of those killed and fallen in the war since October 7 were transferred.
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Referring to the severe sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on Black Saturday, the French minister tweeted: "Neither silence nor denial - horrific sexual violence was perpetrated by terrorists on October 7. The world must recognize this, condemn the acts vigorously, and severely punish the perpetrators. The testimonies are chilling."
Ni silence, ni déni : des violences sexuelles atroces ont été perpétrées par les terroristes du 7 octobre. Elles doivent être universellement reconnues, fermement condamnées, et leurs auteurs sévèrement punis.
Témoignages glaçants des femmes engagées dans cette cause. pic.twitter.com/c6Sh89hddf
— Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) December 17, 2023
Earlier, the French foreign minister said in a statement alongside Foreign Minister Eli Cohen: "We fight terrorism together, Israel has the right to defend itself. During the day, I will speak with a number of members of the war cabinet about what is happening in Gaza and worries France."
Foreign Minister Catherine Coloma visiting the military rabbinate's Shura camp, photo: AP.
Colonna added: "I have come here to call for a renewed and lasting truce that will allow a real ceasefire to be advanced. This is the message I will convey today to Ramallah and the Palestinian leaders I will meet. We can be in solidarity with both Jews and Palestinians, there is suffering on both sides."
Soldiers during operational activity in the Gaza Strip, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Foreign Minister Cohen referred to the war with Hezbollah in northern Israel, saying that "only the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and the distancing of Hezbollah from the border with Israel will prevent a war in Lebanon. Hezbollah, which serves the terrorist government in Iran, endangers Lebanon and the entire region. The issue can be resolved diplomatically or by military action. Only the implementation of Resolution 1701 and the removal of Hezbollah terrorists north of the Litani River will prevent war in Lebanon."
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, photo: Shlomi Amsalem, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"I spoke with the French foreign minister today, following the talks we have held in recent weeks, about advancing an international diplomatic move that will remove the Hezbollah threat from Israel's northern border and allow tens of thousands of evacuees to return to their homes safely." Cohen said, adding, "In recent weeks, we have established a joint working group between France and Israel in order to coordinate the implementation of Resolution 1701."
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