Paris: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday declared that there is no longer any justification for Israel's military operations in Gaza. "I want to say that this new ground offensive is deplorable. There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza," Barrot stated during an interview with the broadcaster France Inter.

According to Anadolu Agency, Barrot warned against exacerbating the "already catastrophic situation" in Gaza, which could lead to new forced displacements, a development that France condemns strongly. He emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in the region, calling it "disgraceful" and demanding an immediate end to the hostilities with a ceasefire.

Barrot also criticized restrictions on press access in Gaza, labeling them as "unacceptable." He assured that steps could be taken to support French journalists facing dire conditions in the region. "I am calling for the free and independent press to be allowed access to Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness-particularly concerning French journalists' collaborators," he stated.

In addition to addressing the situation in Gaza, Barrot announced that efforts are underway to develop a new, more extensive package of sanctions against Russia. He highlighted the potential impact of coordinated actions between France and the United States, aiming to leverage their combined economic strength to bring hostilities in Ukraine to an end.