Liberation newspaper said that 16 Palestinians, including professors, artists, students and journalists, originally from Gaza and living in France, asked, in an open letter, the French authorities to evacuate their families from the war zone and receive them, even temporarily.
The newspaper – which left the source of the letter unknown for security reasons – explained that members of the “Group of French Government Grantees from Gaza,” which wrote the letter, came to France as part of these grants.
The letter – addressed to the French Presidency, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the French Consulates in Jerusalem and Cairo – stated that this group, whose members came to France as students and young artists, realize that their horizons and opportunities in life can only be reached through exile in France, due to the siege. Therefore, after studying and residency programs, they decided to stay in this country and build their lives there, after struggling for years to integrate, develop their careers, and establish their families.
I was directly affected
The Palestinian group in France continued that their families were directly affected by the war since the seventh of last October, as they lost some of their members and some of their friends and most of their homes were destroyed, describing the chances of survival in Gaza as very slim, after describing the difficult living conditions, where famine looms. A health crisis is on the horizon throughout Gaza, where access to water and food is inaccessible, and infectious diseases are increasing.
The message of this group, which has diverse legal statuses, among holders of residence permits, naturalized people, refugees, and those married to French women, spoke about the fragility of their families, which include the elderly, those with chronic diseases, children who need milk and vaccinations, and people with disabilities who have been displaced several times during the past two months.
Urgent situations
To clarify the urgency of the situation in Gaza, the letter stated that the intensity of the war there led to an unprecedented deterioration in people’s conditions, noting that the United Nations announced in 2018 that the Gaza Strip had become “unfit for living” and today the most important infrastructure has been destroyed, such as hospitals, schools and universities. Water networks, electricity, roads, etc.
The letter concluded by saying, “At a time when our families are exposed to the worst acts of violence, we rely more than ever on France and its influence to save our loved ones by getting them out of Gaza as quickly as possible.”
