French President Emmanuel Macron called this Tuesday in Tel Aviv to avoid the extension of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and considered the release of the hostages held in Gaza a priority.
“I believe it is our duty to fight against these terrorist groups, without confusion, and I would say even without expanding the conflict,” Macron declared during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog.
“The first objective we must have today is the release of all the hostages, without any distinction,” he said, quoted by the French agency AFP.
Macron told Herzog that Israel is not alone in the “war against terrorism” but that it is necessary to “organize specific operations.”
The head of state arrived in Tel Aviv today to show his solidarity with Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people, including three dozen French, according to Israeli authorities.
Hamas also kidnapped more than two hundred Israelis and foreigners held hostage in the Gaza Strip, four of whom have since been released.
After the unprecedented attack, Israel declared war on Hamas and keeps the Gaza Strip surrounded and subjected to constant bombings that have already caused more than five thousand deaths, according to local authorities.
Hamas announced today that Israeli strikes killed another 140 people overnight, while the Israeli army claimed to have killed three leaders of the Islamist group in the past 24 hours.
“I want you to know that we are at your side and that we will do everything in our power to bring peace, security and stability to your country and the entire region,” Macron told Herzog.
“What happened will never be forgotten and we will be there, today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, supporting peace and stability, because these people were murdered only because they were Jews and wanted to live in peace,” he added.
Macron will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.
At 1:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. in Lisbon), a press statement by Macron and Netanyahu is scheduled, according to AFP.
After the meetings in Israel, Macron is scheduled to travel to Ramallah, in the West Bank, to meet with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinian leader’s office said the meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. in Lisbon).
Source: TSF
