French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Israel as war intensifies
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Tel Aviv, Israel: More than two weeks after Israel started striking Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived on Tuesday in Tel Aviv to express ‘full solidarity’ with Israel, news agency AFP reported.
Macron’s visit comes days after the US president Joe Biden’s travel to Israel where he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet: “I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist.”
Macron will meet Benjamin Netanyahu to express what the report said ‘full solidarity’ with the Jewish nation, which is currently striking Gaza Strip following Hamas attack on October 7.
As Israel is getting ready for a ground offensive the French president is likely to call for ‘civilian preservation of the civilian population’, the report said.
The Elysee Palace said that Macron will press for a ‘humanitarian truce’ to bring aid into Gaza.
The Palace reportedly mentioned the situation following Israel’s attack that deprived the area’s 2.4 million residents of water, food and power.
It is reported that Macron and Netanyahu will hold a joint press conference today alongside the French President is due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Opposition leaders.
Macron will take time off to meet families of ‘French and French-Israeli nationals who were killed or held hostage in the Hamas attack.
The report said of the seven French citizens deemed to be missing one has been confirmed among the 200 hostages.
The Elysee Palace also reportedly said that the French president will seek to ‘avoid a dangerous escalation in the region’ as the raging war appears to have no end in sight.
The call for de-escalation gathers importance as reports pointed at increasing ‘cross-border exchanges between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.’