French President Emmanuel Macron has expressly asked Israel to “preserve the civilian population” in its response to Hamas aggression, “because this is the duty of democracies.” In his ten-minute televised speech this Thursday, Macron launched a moral message almost identical to that of the American president, Joe Biden, who has also insisted that Israel respect the rules of war.
The French head of state has stressed that “it is not a war between Israelis and Palestinians; it is a war unleashed by terrorists against a nation, a country, a society of democratic values.” “We know that the only response to terrorists is always a strong and fair response; strong because it is fair,” he said.
Macron wanted to go beyond the emotion of the moment and stressed that “we cannot resign ourselves to an endless war in the region.” “The fight against terrorism cannot replace the search for peace,” added the head of the Elysée, who has reiterated France’s traditional position, in favor of a solution that permanently guarantees the security of Israel and, at the same time, , leading to a State for the Palestinians.
The French president has confirmed that 13 of his compatriots have died as a result of Hamas attacks and that Paris will do everything in its power, in coordination with its allies and other countries in the international community, including Arab countries such as Egypt and Qatar, to obtain the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Macron has also promised to protect as much as possible the French of Jewish confession, subjected these days to anti-Semitic hatred.
Paris’s priority objectives, at this very delicate moment of the crisis, are to show firm support for Israel, prevent the regional extension of the conflict and coordinate humanitarian aid.
