Toulon: French President Emmanuel Macron described the "humanitarian disaster" in the Gaza Strip as "intolerable" during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday. "The humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip is intolerable. The famine declared by the United Nations is very clearly the result of the blockade of humanitarian aid," Macron said following the 25th Franco-German Council of Ministers in Toulon. He reiterated the need to end the fighting, ensure humanitarian access, deliver aid to civilians, and establish a path to peace.
According to Anadolu Agency, France and Germany issued a joint declaration in parallel with the leaders' conference. They condemned "all attempts" to annex and reoccupy parts of Palestinian territory to increase settlement construction and expressed "shock" over the human toll in the Gaza Strip. They have reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution, expressing that this is the only way to guarantee that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.
Macron also addressed the Ukraine-Russia conflict, noting that a just and lasting peace for Kyiv is "only possible" with security guarantees. "A just and lasting peace is only possible if there are security guarantees. This is the very purpose of the coalition of volunteers we established last February," he said. He emphasized the necessity of diplomatic and concrete support along with security guarantees before any discussions on territory.
The French president further outlined a joint agenda with Germany to revive EU competitiveness and digital sovereignty. "We share the observation, which has been widely documented, that a decline in the competitiveness of the European Union compared to its main partners is well established," Macron said. He added that France and Germany are committed to defending EU legislation and digital sovereignty and will work on a new trade policy agenda to diversify partnerships and strengthen competitiveness.
Macron announced a high-level summit on Nov. 18 in Germany on digital sovereignty along with the European Commission and several other member states. "Coordination between our two countries must also contribute to digital sovereignty as well as economic competitiveness in advanced technologies," he added.