French President Emmanuel Macron.Photo: Collected

PARIS, Aug 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday 
condemned Israel's plan to expand its operations and take control of Gaza 
City as a "disaster" and a path to "permanent war".

"This war must end now with a permanent ceasefire," Macron said in a 
statement, adding Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City was "a disaster 
of unprecedented gravity and a headlong rush into permanent war."

"Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the primary 
victims of this strategy," Macron said.

Israel has said its military would "take control" of Gaza City in a plan 
approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet that sparked 
a wave of global criticism.

In the statement, Macron said it was important to establish a UN-mandated 
stabilisation mission to secure the Gaza Strip.

"The Security Council must now work to establish this mission and give it a 
mandate," he said.

"I have asked my teams to work on this without delay with our partners," 
Macron added.

Netanyahu defended the plan on Sunday, saying "Israel has no choice but to 
finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas."

"We have about 70 to 75 percent of Gaza under Israeli control, military 
control," he said.

"But we have two remaining strongholds, OK? These are Gaza City and the 
central camps in Al Mawasi."