"This war must end immediately with a permanent ceasefire," Macron said in a statement, calling Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City"a catastrophe of unprecedented gravity and a hasty move towards permanent war."

"The Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the main victims of this strategy," Macron said.

Israel has announced that its military will"take control" of Gaza City under a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet.

The plan has sparked global condemnation.

Macron said in a statement that it was important to establish a UN-mandated stabilization mission to guarantee security in the Gaza Strip.

"The Security Council must now work to establish this mission and give it a mandate," he said.

"I have asked my teams to work on this immediately with our partners," Macron said.

Netanyahu defended the plan on Sunday, saying that"Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas."