French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for an end to the fighting in Gaza, saying France was lending its "full support" to mediation efforts in the war between Israel and Hamas.
"The war in Gaza must stop," Macron wrote on X. "This must be clear to everyone."
An end of hostilities was "crucial for the people of Gaza, for the hostages, and for the stability of the region, which is at stake today", he wrote.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel had agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks on 15 August at the request of US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
The three countries have endeavoured to secure a second truce in the war sparked by Hamas's unprecedented 7 October attack on Israel.
In a joint statement on Thursday, they invited the warring parties to resume talks on 15 August in Doha or Cairo "to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay".
A framework agreement was "now on the table, with only the details of implementation" left to conclude, and the mediators were "prepared to present a final bridging proposal" to resolve remaining issues, they said.
French support
Macron said the American, Egyptian and Qatari mediators had "full support from France".
Netanyahu's office said later Thursday Israel would send a negotiating team on 15 August "to the agreed place to conclude the details of implementing a deal".
A prospective cessation of hostilities also involving the release of hostages held in Gaza and scaled-up aid deliveries has centred around a phased deal beginning with an initial truce.
UN Security Council approves US proposal for 'immediate and total ceasefire' in Gaza
Recent discussions have focused on a framework outlined by US President Joe Biden in late May which he said had been proposed by Israel.
"It's not like the agreement's going to be ready to sign on Thursday. There's still a significant amount of work to do," a senior Biden administration official said of the talks that come after calls between Biden and the Egyptian and Qatari leaders this week.
Israel had been "very receptive" to the idea of the talks, the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, rejecting suggestions that Netanyahu was stalling on a deal.
New Hamas leader
The announcement of the talks came after Hamas named Yahya Sinwar – the alleged mastermind of the 7 October attack – as its new leader, sparking fears the torturous negotiations have become even more difficult.
The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel braced for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.
Hezbollah, Iran condemn Israeli killing of Hamas leader in Tehran strike
Meanwhile, on the ground in Gaza, the Hamas-controlled civil defence agency said Israeli strikes hit Al-Zahra and Abdel Fattah Hamoud schools in Gaza City, killing more than 18 people.
Senior agency official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said 60 people were wounded and more than 40 still missing.
"This is a clear targeting of schools and safe civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip," he said.
The Israeli military said the schools housed Hamas command centres.
At least 13 people were killed elsewhere in Gaza, rescuers and medics reported, as the Israeli military issued its latest evacuation order, for parts of the main southern city of Khan Yunis.
(with AFP)
