LONDON

France on Tuesday stressed the importance of a political solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and called for a "humanitarian pause" that could lead to a “sustained peace.” 

Speaking during the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that swift and unhindered humanitarian access is a must to protect civilians in Gaza.

"The number of these convoys must increase. More needs to be done because the needs are enormous, each civilian counts, each minute counts," Colonna said.

She said that France stands firmly with “Israel which has the right to defend itself, while respecting international humanitarian law. Indeed, all civilian lives must be protected,” she said.

“It is our duty to pave the way to peace,” the French minister said. “The only viable solution is the two-State solution. We need to do all we can. This Council must act and it must act now.”

She also called for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 7,200 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been running out of food, water, medicines and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what’s needed.