The mediation efforts were intensifying following a renewed push led by Egypt to revive the stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group.
Egyptian officials updated Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on the negotiations when he made an unscheduled stop in Cairo after a five-day tour of the region.
"We came to coordinate our efforts for a truce. The message given by France and its Arab partners in the region is that Israel pulls back on this offensive in Rafah," Sejourne said after meeting his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri.
He declined to say how optimistic he was about a deal being concluded or give details about the negotiation's progress. READ MORE