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France has offered to help make food distribution in Gaza safer, following mounting international outrage over the deaths of hundreds of civilians near aid centres in the war-torn territory.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Paris—and Europe more broadly—“stands ready to contribute to the safety of food distribution” in Gaza. The proposal comes amid growing criticism over deadly incidents at Israeli-coordinated aid sites, where at least 500 Palestinians have been killed since late May, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Barrot also acknowledged Israeli concerns that militant groups such as Hamas may be diverting humanitarian aid, saying improved oversight and protection could address both humanitarian and security needs.
The escalating toll has prompted a wave of condemnation. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Friday decried the current distribution model—backed by Israel and the United States—as “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the alarm, warning that desperate civilians seeking food “must not face a death sentence.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against media reports accusing Israeli forces of targeting civilians. He called a Haaretz article alleging military commanders gave orders to fire on Palestinians at aid sites a “blood libel.”
As food scarcity deepens and humanitarian efforts grow more perilous, France’s offer signals potential momentum for a new internationally coordinated aid mechanism—one aimed at both delivering relief and protecting those in line to receive it.
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