Tel Aviv, October 24 (RHC)-- French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his full support of Israel amid its continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip, weeks after deadly attacks launched by the Palestinian group, Hamas. Macron said: “I am here to express our solidarity.”
In a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron added that France and Israel share a “common enemy.” Macron’s visit comes more than two weeks after Hamas members stormed into Israel, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, including about 30 French citizens.
Israel has since relentlessly bombed Gaza, so far killing more than 5,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, while it prepares for a ground invasion of the blockaded area.
The Israeli leader reiterated that Hamas would be destroyed in the continuing war and that after the fighting, no one would live “under Hamas tyranny.”
Netanyahu also warned that the war might take time.
Macron is the latest Western leader to visit Israel, following counterparts from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and others.
When Macron met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, he said that France stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Israel.