France, May 19 -- Amid escalating tensions and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, France is calling for immediate and unhindered aid access. With Israel agreeing only to a limited reopening of supply routes, international concern is mounting over the risk of famine and the fate of civilians caught in the conflict.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has made a strong appeal to Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling for an "immediate, massive and unhampered" resumption of assistance to the besieged Palestinian territory.

His statement on Sunday followed Israel's announcement that it would permit only a "basic amount" of aid to enter the Strip, where conditions have deteriorated significantly since t...