France Calls Gaza Situation 'Unbearable Catastrophe'
Speaking at the "Paris Call for the Two-State Solution" forum, Barrot painted a stark picture of a region buckling under the weight of compounding crises, insisting that the ceasefire had done little to alleviate the suffering on the ground.
"It is the unbearable humanitarian catastrophe in which Gaza remains engulfed. (...) It is the unbearable situation in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, where the violence of radical settlers, calls for annexation, forced displacements, and violations of the status quo at holy sites are reducing, day by day, the prospect of peace," Barrot said.
Wars 'Not of Their Choosing'
The French minister broadened his critique beyond Gaza, warning that the war involving Iran was compounding regional instability and that civilian populations across the Middle East were bearing a disproportionate cost.
He said the people of Lebanon and Iran were "caught between ... wars they did not choose" — a pointed rebuke directed at the region's warring powers.
Yet Barrot struck a defiant note against despair, addressing forum attendees directly.
"In these circumstances, we could find every reason in the world to give up. But you are here, and your testimonies alone are reasons for hope and reasons for action," Barrot said.
Elections as a Starting Point, Not an Endpoint
Looking ahead, Barrot identified 2025 as a potentially decisive year, noting that both Israel and Palestine are expected to hold legislative elections — and that Palestine is also expected to hold presidential elections. He urged that democratic processes in Palestinian territories be treated as a foundation for political renewal, not a final destination.
"I say to those who doubt that the time has come: elections in Palestine must not be an endpoint. They are a starting point, a moment of essential democratic expression so that the Palestinian Authority can fully assume its responsibilities," Barrot underscored.
He reaffirmed France's unwavering commitment to advancing a vision of two peoples and two states, "recognized and respected in their rights, living side by side in peace and security."
'Peace Born From Dignity, Not Humiliation'
Closing on a philosophical note, Barrot argued that repairing a fractured world demanded bold leadership and moral courage — and that any sustainable peace must be rooted in mutual respect rather than dominance.
"Peace will be born neither from humiliation nor from the denial of the other's right to existence or security, but from a demanding path made of courageous compromises and absolute steadfastness on human dignity. It is this narrow path that alone can lead to peace in Jerusalem, in Tel Aviv, or in Ramallah," he said.
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