France president in Israel to show solidarity

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Israel today to express France’s “full solidarity” with Israel during its bombardment of the Gaza Strip and to meet with top Israeli officials.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Macron is expected to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

According to a statement from his office, Macron’s visit aims to push for the release of hostages being held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and also to call for the resumption of a “genuine peace process” between Palestinians and Israelis.

62% of those killed in Gaza are children, women: MoH

Several European leaders have come to Israel over the past two weeks to show solidarity with Israel as Tel Aviv pummels Gaza and carries out what rights groups have warned is a genocide in the enclave.

Israel launched a bombing campaign against Gaza on 7 October after resistance groups carried out a surprise infiltration of the towns surrounding the Gaza envelope, taking more than 200 prisoners of war in the process, the majority Israeli soldiers.

Israel responded to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, by dropping more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza in one week. To date, more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 60 per cent children and women. Some 22 Israeli prisoners of war have also died as a result of Israel’s bombing campaign in the Strip, while four have been released on humanitarian grounds.

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