Middle East, Emmanuel Macron wants a coalition against Hamas

French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Israel to express solidarity after the massive attack by Hamas on October 7 and raised the hypothesis of using the international anti-ISIS coalition, currently deployed in Iraq and Syria, also against the Islamic Movement that governs the Gaza Strip. “We must build a regional and international coalition to combat the terrorist groups that threaten us all,” said the head of the Elysee in Jerusalem, after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the same time, Macron added, a “decisive relaunch” of the peace process in the Middle East is necessary, through dialogue with the Palestinians. A topic that he also intends to address in the meeting he has on the agenda in Ramallah with the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Abu Mazen, and with the region’s leaders. “The Palestinian cause must be heard,” he said. “Israel’s security cannot be sustainable without a decisive relaunch of the political process with the Palestinians.” Expanding the coalition’s objectives would benefit not only Israel but also its neighbors, who are also “threatened” by Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the EU and the United States. “The battle must be merciless, but not without rules because we are democracies that fight against terrorists, democracies that respect the right to war and guarantee humanitarian access”, highlighted Macron.

The international anti-ISIS coalition is made up of 86 “members” and involves institutions such as the EU and the Arab League. Among its activities, not only the fight against the Islamic State on the ground, but also training the armed forces, sharing intelligent information and ending the financing of jihadists. Regarding the possibility of the conflict spreading, the head of the Elysee urged Iran and its allies in the region – from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen – “not to take the reckless risk of opening new fronts”. France “sent very clear messages to Hezbollah and discussed the matter with them”, he assured, speaking to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Macron also met with some of the families of the 30 French people killed in the October 7th attack and the 9 hostages and missing people: the release of all those in the hands of Hamas in Gaza must be the “first objective”, he stressed. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is also working on this issue, as well as on the humanitarian truce proposal, having traveled to New York to participate in today’s debate on the Middle East at the UN Security Council. The leader of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, asked French President Emmanuel Macron, during the meeting, to take measures to “stop this aggression against our people” and the implementation of “the 2-State solution to end the occupation of Palestine”. BfmTv reports this. Abbas also called for a “ceasefire” and the “permanent” opening of humanitarian corridors.