French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Saturday that France, along with Europe, is prepared to secure safe food distribution in Gaza. Amid growing criticism over civilian deaths near Israeli-controlled aid centers, Barrot said the initiative would also ease Israeli concerns that armed groups like Hamas are seizing relief supplies. He condemned the killing of “500 people who came for humanitarian aid.” Israeli newspaper Haaretz had reported that military commanders ordered troops to fire on Palestinians collecting food. Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed the claim as “a blood libel.”