France’s Macron Reaffirmed Need for Gaza Ceasefire in Call with Qatar’s Emir

French President Emmanuel Macron looks on before his meeting with Argentina's President at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron looks on before his meeting with Argentina's President at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
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France’s Macron Reaffirmed Need for Gaza Ceasefire in Call with Qatar’s Emir

French President Emmanuel Macron looks on before his meeting with Argentina's President at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron looks on before his meeting with Argentina's President at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call on Friday with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during which Macron reaffirmed his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, said a statement from Macron's office.

Macron, who also spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday, added that France would remain mobilized within the United Nations' peacekeeping force UNIFIL to try and maintain stability in Lebanon.



Saudi Arabia Urges Need to End Suffering in Gaza

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Need to End Suffering in Gaza

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah delivers his remarks at the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia called on Monday for an end to the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza in wake of Israel’s war on the enclave.

On behalf of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in the first session of the second day of the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro.

Prince Faisal stressed that the grave crises around the world serve as a reminder of shared responsibilities and the urgent need to avoid escalation to maintain security and prevent the expansion of conflicts.

On Gaza, he condemned the Israeli attacks on health infrastructure and the targeting of civilians, describing them as “blatant violations of international humanitarian law and a direct challenge to the rules-based international order”.

Prince Faisal called on the international community “to shoulder its responsibilities in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians”.

“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza cannot be overlooked,” he said, urging “serious international efforts to end the crisis and achieve a lasting, comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with international law.”

The Kingdom is attending the summit as an invited country to join the BRICS group. The session was titled: Environment, United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), and Global Health.

Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of boosting cooperation in the fields of climate and health, reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. He called for a practical and balanced approach that considers the diverse circumstances of different countries.

He further noted that the Kingdom, as one of the countries facing water scarcity, has developed advanced methods and technologies to manage environmental and water resource challenges. He highlighted Saudi Arabia's leadership in establishing the Global Water Organization, which aims to ensure equitable access to this vital resource.

On the health sector, Prince Faisal stated that Saudi Vision 2030 includes comprehensive reforms focused on prevention and integrated care. He also reviewed the Kingdom’s expertise in managing large gatherings such as Hajj and Umrah and in developing planning and early warning systems, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for health emergency preparedness and response in accordance with international standards.