French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Israel – today Tuesday – stressed the need to join the Israeli army in its ongoing battle in the Gaza Strip to broaden the scope of the international coalition fighting the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria”. Fighting “ruthlessly” the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Macron did not provide any details on how the US-led coalition (which does not include Israel) that includes dozens of countries will participate in the fight against Hamas.
The Coalition to Fight ISIS was formed in September 2014 to support the coalition’s local partners in Iraq and Syria against the organization.
The French president, who is on a visit to the Middle East, reaffirmed his solidarity with Israel, describing the occupation as a “friendly country” during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Macron, who warned of the dangers of a regional conflict, insisted that the fight against Hamas “must be ruthless” but not without rules.
Netanyahu did not directly comment on Macron’s proposal, but said, “This is not just our war … everyone’s war.”
After he met the families of dead and wounded Frenchmen at Tel Aviv airport, he promised that France’s first goal was to free the nine French prisoners and that Israel would not be left alone.
“The first goal we must have today is to free all the hostages without any discrimination,” Macron said after a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Last Monday night, Hamas announced the release of two additional hostages, bringing the number of those freed since the start of the Al-Aqsa flood to four.
Macron’s visit to Israel came after EU foreign ministers struggled to accept Israel’s call for a “humanitarian ceasefire” or humanitarian corridor to provide more aid to civilians caught up in the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
The French president will meet with other leaders in the region in the Jordanian capital Amman on Tuesday. Macron also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Karim-Emile Bitar, a foreign policy expert at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations, said the French government’s decision was the same before the courts overturned pro-Palestinian protests in France. Reasons for Macron’s Loss of Influence in the Arab World
Macron’s visit to Israel comes on the 18th day of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, which has resulted in the martyrdom of thousands of Palestinians since the start of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” by Hamas-led Palestinian resistance on the 7th of this month.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced – today, Tuesday – that the death toll has risen to around 5,800, including 2,360 children, 1,292 women and 295 elderly, while 16,297 people have been injured with various injuries.
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