Israel informed France on Friday that its forces had struck the French Institute in Gaza, and France said it was demanding an explanation.
The foreign ministry issued a statement saying, “The Israeli authorities informed us that an Israeli strike had targeted the French Institute in Gaza.”
“We have asked the Israeli authorities to communicate to us without delay… the tangible elements which motivated this decision,” it said.
No staff or French nationals were present at the time of the strike, the ministry said.
The government-backed French Institute runs cultural outreach programmes around the world.
The fighting between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel was triggered by Hamas’ bloody raids on October 7, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says more than 9,200 people have died in Israeli bombardments, mostly women and children.
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