The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, warned Israel this Saturday of the need to clarify the goal of the “total destruction of Hamas,” as this could translate into “ten years” of war, and called for “redoubled efforts for a cessation of the war.” permanent fire”.
“Does anyone believe that the total destruction of Hamas is possible?” the French president asked at a press conference on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, adding: “If that is the goal , war It will last ten years.”
Emmanuel Macron expressed his fears of an ‘endless war’ between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza. In addition to “concerns” about the end of the ceasefire in recent days, the head of state left advice and warnings for Israel.
“The right response to terrorism is not systematic and permanent bombing, it is not destroying an entire territory or bombing all civilian capabilities,” he stressed.
Despite recognizing that Israel’s “lasting security” is at stake, this cannot be guaranteed if it “comes at the expense of Palestinian lives and therefore the resentment of the entire public opinion in the region.”
In this sense, he called for “redoubled efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire, to ensure the release of all hostages still held by Hamas and to provide the people of Gaza with the assistance they need.” urgently need.”
The French head of state also called for “Israel to be assured that its security has been restored, while responding to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, by achieving the political goal that is the promise of two states.”
“If you adopt an approach to security in which political desperation fuels all resentment, you will not build our own long-term security,” Macron warned, emphasizing the “legitimate right of the Palestinian people to a state.”
Regarding the release of the hostages still held by Hamas, he said that it “needs to be worked on for several days,” citing “ongoing negotiations.” Four French citizens have been considered hostages or missing since October 7.
The French president is expected to stop in Qatar on Saturday evening for dinner with Sheikh Al-Thani, the country’s emir at the center of ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages.
Source: DN
