Nur Asena Erturk
24 October 2023•Update: 24 October 2023
ANKARA
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday expressed "full support" to Israel amid the ongoing Mideast conflict.
Speaking to journalists ahead of his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, Macron said: “The first objective we should have today is the release of all hostages without any distinction.”
He stressed that Israel was not "left alone against terrorism," recalling that France also suffered from attacks.
"It is a necessity that operations should target these terrorist groups," Macron added.
Emmanuel Macron arrived in Israel on Tuesday morning to meet with Israeli officials and French hostages' families.
He is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hold a joint news conference.
The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 5,087, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said. “The fatalities include 2,055 children, 1,119 women and 217 elders,” the ministry said, adding 15,273 people were also injured.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities.
