France has said it was concerned about the heavy toll among journalists covering Gaza and it was pushing to get Agence France-Presse reporters out of the Strip, AFP reports.

“We are keeping up our efforts regarding AFP employees,” said Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesman for Paris’ foreign ministry.

It is “a complex operation”, he added.

“Since October, we have been working to allow French citizens on the ground to leave Gaza, as well as their dependants,” Lemoine added.