France Welcomes Qatar's Efforts to Reach Humanitarian Pause in Gaza

Paris, November 22 (QNA) - France has welcomed the efforts made by the State of Qatar, acting as a mediator, to reach a humanitarian pause in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. 
    French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna stated that France hopes that French citizens will be among the hostages released as part of the "humanitarian pause" agreement. 
    Colonna also praised the efforts of Qatar in particular, which played the role of mediator to reach the agreement, and the work of the United States, expressing hope that the humanitarian pause will lead to a ceasefire.
    She pointed out that Israel should do everything in its power to protect Palestinian civilians, stating that there have been a lot of casualties.
    Earlier Wednesday, the State of Qatar announced the success of its joint mediation efforts undertaken with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), resulting in an agreement for a humanitarian pause. The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension. The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in the first phase in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons. (QNA)