Paris: France summoned the Israeli
ambassador in Paris to a meeting at the foreign ministry today
to protest after an air strike wounded a French diplomat in
Gaza along with his wife and daughter.
A spokesman for the ministry said that France's
ambassador in Tel Aviv had complained to Israeli authorities
over the bombing, and that Israel's envoy had been required to
meet with senior officials in Paris.
The head of France's Gaza consulate, Majdi Shakura, was
hurt in an Israeli airstrike on the Palestinian territory on
the night of Sunday to Monday.
He said earlier this week that he and his daughter
suffered cuts from flying glass when the windows of their
house blew in, and that his wife, who was two months pregnant,
suffered a miscarriage.
Israeli forces said the raid was a response to a rocket
strike launched from the area. Palestinian medical sources
said that a 20-year-old policeman was killed in the bombing.
"This morning, at the foreign ministry, we reminded
the Israeli ambassador of the extent to which we strongly
regret the results of this raid for the head of our Gaza
consular section and his family," said Bernard Valero.
"He was reminded that, while we recognise the need of
Israel to protect its security, it is important to prevent any
harm coming to civilians or the French presence in Gaza," the
spokesman said.
On Tuesday, the Israeli Army chief of staff, General
Benny Gantz, warned that further rocket fire by Palestinian
militants in Gaza will push Israel into taking "aggressive and
meaningful action".
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 23:59