Macron Urges Ceasefire and Increased Aid for Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Israeli plans for safe zones in southern Gaza, stating that a political agreement is necessary for their effectiveness. At a humanitarian conference in Paris, Macron called for a humanitarian ceasefire and support for a maritime corridor from Cyprus to southern Gaza. The conference also discussed proposals for humanitarian aid drops and field hospitals in Gaza. Israel declined the invitation to the conference, but the Palestinian prime minister attended and criticized the Israeli plan. The head of the UN humanitarian agency OCHA warned that the conflict could escalate further and proposed increasing aid to Gaza. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed the call for a maritime humanitarian corridor, while the Greek prime minister offered naval assets.