French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, October 24 to show unwavering support for Israel following the devastating October 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, as reported by an AFP journalist.
Netanyahu’s visit occurs more than two weeks after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,400 lives, primarily civilians who were either shot, mutilated, or burned to death during the initial assault, according to Israeli authorities. Among the casualties were 30 French citizens.
Macron is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reiterate France’s unequivocal support for Israel in the aftermath of the aforementioned attack, as confirmed by the French presidency.
He is also expected to advocate for the “protection of the civilian population” in Gaza, in light of Israel’s ongoing heavy bombardment and its preparations for a ground incursion into the densely populated Palestinian territory.
According to figures provided by the Hamas-run health ministry, over 5,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children, have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s attacks.
The Elysée Palace has stated that Macron will specifically call for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to facilitate the delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza.
The 2.4 million people in Gaza have been severely deprived of essential resources, including water, food, and electricity, due to an Israeli blockade.
Macron and Netanyahu were scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 1:00 p.m. (1000 GMT).
The French head of state was also scheduled to have meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, along with opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid in Jerusalem.
Seven French citizens are still unaccounted for, and one of them, a French woman, has been confirmed as one of the more than 200 individuals reportedly held hostage by Hamas, according to Israel.
The French president is also committed to continuing efforts to prevent a dangerous escalation in the region, as concerns mount over escalating cross-border interactions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Macron intends to put forward a proposal for the revival of a genuine peace process, with the objective of establishing a viable Palestinian state in exchange for security assurances from regional powers concerning Israel.
Additionally, there are likely to be meetings with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and leaders from Gulf nations, according to the Elysée.
It’s worth noting that US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have all made visits to Israel since the October 7 attacks.