French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Israel as he kicked off a trip to the country, which is witnessing its most deadly outbreak of violence in decades.
Macron said he was visiting Israel to show “support for your people, your nation, your rights,” during a statement to the press alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
Hamas’ attacks were “an immense shock for the whole planet, in particular for France,” Macron said, in reference to the Palestinian militant group’s violent assault against Israel which killed more than 1,400 Israelis. Hamas also killed 30 French citizens.
After meeting the relatives of French-Israeli victims and hostages at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Macron said the “first objective” should be to secure the release of hostages. Nine French citizens have been taken hostage by Hamas, or are missing.
Macron is expected to call later Tuesday for “a humanitarian truce” and the preservation of Palestinian lives during his visit, as observers warn of an unfolding humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is conducting retaliatory airstrikes against Hamas.
In Jerusalem, Macron said “clearly targeting these terrorist groups” was “a necessity.”
The French president is also holding talks with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is expected to meet the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas later Tuesday.
