France condemns extension of Israeli military offensive into central Gaza

The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs has condemned Israel's extension of its military offensive into central Gaza. 

The statement follows targeted Israeli shelling of the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah on Monday after the Israeli army warned it was launching an operation "in an area where it has not operated before".

“France strongly condemns the extension of the Israeli offensive to the centre of Gaza, where evacuation orders have led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people in Deir el-Balah and are hampering the work of numerous United Nations agencies and international NGOs,” the French foreign ministry said.

The ministry's statement follows yesterday's joint statement co-authored by over 20 countries, including France and the UK, calling for an end to Israel's war on Gaza.