France tells Israel it rejects creation of Gaza buffer zone

France told Israel it opposes the establishment of a buffer zone along the Gaza Strip border, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported. 

"France opposes any attempt to threaten Gaza's territorial integrity or reduce its size," a French official said.

"The Palestinian Authority must be able to exercise its full authority in Gaza. Neither Israel nor anyone else can decide for the Palestinians the scope of their sovereignty or the way they will govern tomorrow," it added. 

Israel has razed nearly 40 percent of the 2,824 buildings in Gaza located within a kilometre of the border, according to a Hebrew University study cited by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, much of the land has now been turned into a military zone which Israel intends to turn into a buffer.