French President Emmanuel Macron has put forward a proposal during his visit to Israel to expand the mission of the international coalition that fights against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. He suggests that the coalition, led by the United States and comprising dozens of countries (excluding Israel), should also play a role in addressing the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. While specific details of how this expansion would take shape were not provided, Macron’s advisers indicated that it might involve intelligence-sharing rather than the deployment of ground forces.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Macron emphasized the shared perspective between France and Israel, labeling terrorism as their “common enemy.” He expressed France’s readiness to broaden the international coalition’s focus to include Hamas in its fight against terrorism.
“France is ready for the international coalition against Daesh in which we are taking part for operations in Iraq and Syria to also fight against Hamas,” Macron stated, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
Although Macron underscored the importance of confronting Hamas, he also stressed that the approach must be “without mercy but not without rules.” He warned against the potential risks of a regional conflict while advocating for a strategic and principled response to the situation.
Prime Minister Netanyahu did not directly comment on Macron’s proposal but highlighted the broader context of the conflict. He framed it as a battle between the “axis of evil” and “the free world,” emphasizing that the fight against terrorism was a collective endeavor.
The international coalition against ISIS, formed in September 2014, has primarily focused on combatting the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria. Macron’s suggestion seeks to draw inspiration from the coalition’s model and adapt it to address the Hamas threat.
Macron also traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. He characterized the Hamas attack as a tragedy for both Israel and the Palestinian people, emphasizing the value of every life. Macron reiterated the importance of a two-state solution to avoid radicalization and terrorism.
While some protesters in Ramallah demonstrated against Macron’s visit, burning pictures of him and calling for an end to support for Israel, the French president expressed his commitment to prioritize the release of nine French hostages.
The proposal to involve the international coalition in the fight against Hamas marks an attempt to address the complex and ongoing situation in the region, where multiple parties have differing views on the path to peace and stability.
Sources By Agencies