French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said he spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the two leaders condemned the resumption of Israeli strikes on Gaza.
Macron stated that they would co-chair a conference on a two-state solution aimed at helping revive a political perspective for both Israelis and Palestinians.
He said this in a post on X, adding that both leaders discussed the need to work together on the issue of Gaza’s future.
“A return to the ceasefire is essential for the release of all hostages and the protection of civilians,” he said.
According to health workers in the coastal strip, the Israeli military on Wednesday resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza, as a second day of airstrikes killed at least 48 Palestinians.
The renewed ground operations came a day after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in one of the deadliest episodes since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, shattering a ceasefire that had largely held since January.
In another development, Macron welcomed the crown prince’s Jeddah initiative, which enabled the start of peace negotiations in Ukraine.
The leaders also discussed Syria and Lebanon.
“France and Saudi Arabia share the same objectives: a fully sovereign Lebanon and a united, stable Syria engaged in an inclusive transition,” Macron said.