Reuters. French President Emmanuel Macron proposed on Tuesday (October 24) that an international coalition fighting against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria be widened to include the fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Macron stressed that France and Israel share terrorism as their "common enemy", but gave little detail on how the U.S.-led coalition of dozens of countries could be involved.
Macron also warned against the risks of a regional conflict, stressing the fight against Hamas "must be without mercy but not without rules".
Netanyahu meanwhile vowed to "destroy" Hamas, calling his country's fight against it a "test for the West and for civilisation" and warning that the devastation unleashed by Israel if Hezbollah were to enter the conflict in a "significant" manner "will be unimaginable."
Beyond showing solidarity, Macron wanted to make "proposals that are as operational as possible" to prevent an escalation, to free hostages, and guarantee Israel's security and work towards a two-state solution, presidential advisers said. He will push for a humanitarian truce, they added.
Macron's visit comes after European Union foreign ministers on Monday (October 23) struggled to agree on a call for a "humanitarian pause" in the war between Israel and Hamas to allow much more aid to reach civilians.
