France offers to help secure aid deliveries in Gaza amid rising death toll

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says his country—and Europe—are prepared to help ensure the safe delivery of food aid in Gaza, where hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to access humanitarian supplies.

“We stand ready, Europe as well, to contribute to the safety of food distribution,” Barrot said on Saturday, as outrage mounts over the growing number of civilian killed close to Israeli-backed aid centres.

He voiced anger over the deaths of “the 500 people who have lost their lives in food distribution” in recent weeks.

His remarks follow a Friday report by Haaretz saying that Israeli commanders had authorised soldiers to open fire on Palestinians seeking aid—a charge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a “blood libel.”