French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed expanding the international coalition fighting against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to include the fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Macron made the proposal during a visit to Israel, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Macron emphasized the shared struggle against terrorism between France and Israel.
Although Macron did not provide detailed information on how the coalition would involve Israel, he stated that France was ready to discuss with Israel and other partners relevant measures to combat Hamas. Macron’s proposal comes as part of his efforts to combat terrorism and prevent a regional conflict.
Netanyahu did not directly comment on Macron’s proposal but described the battle against terrorism as a battle between the “axis of evil” and “the free world”. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism was not exclusive to Israel, but a global battle.
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State was formed in September 2014 and has focused on operations in Iraq and Syria. Macron’s office stated that the coalition’s efforts encompass not only ground operations but also the training of Iraqi forces, information sharing among partners, and combatting terrorism funding.
Macron’s visit to Israel included a meeting with the families of French victims of a recent attack in southern Israel. He also expressed that the release of nine French hostages held by Hamas was a priority for France.
Following his visit to Israel, Macron was scheduled to meet with regional leaders in Jordan before meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
Macron’s proposal comes after EU foreign ministers struggled to reach an agreement on calling for a “humanitarian pause” in the war. The visit highlights France’s commitment to fighting terrorism and fostering stability in the region.
Note: This article is based on information from Reuters and includes additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Michael Georgy. It was written by Michel Rose and Ingrid Melander in Paris, and edited by Kevin Liffey, Mike Harrison, Robert Birsel, and Alison Williams. The article is in compliance with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.