Oct. 24 (UPI) — French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, in a sign of support for Israel as it wages war against Hamas in Gaza.
“We are linked to Israel through mourning,” Macron tweeted in Tel Aviv after meeting with families of loved ones who were kidnapped by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack.
“Thirty of our compatriots were murdered on Oct. 7. Nine others are still missing or held hostage. In Tel Aviv, with their families, I expressed the solidarity of the nation.”
It was unclear whom he was to meet in Israel, including if he was planning to see officials of the Palestinian Authority.
He did meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who thanked the French president for visiting during “these very trying times.”
“Israel is bereaving, we’re bereaving with major pain that we’ve never suffered as a nation since our establishment, and we’ve suffered a lot of pain throughout our history,” he told Macron during a joint press conference before their meeting.
“I know how much you care for our nation and your visit here is a clear expression of solidarity.”
During the press conference, Herzog told Macron that they are dedicated to destroying Hamas infrastructure in Gaza and securing the release of all those kidnapped by Hamas, while warning Hezbollah and its Iranian backers that they were “playing with fire” by fighting Israeli forces in the north from Lebanon.
Fighting between Tel Aviv’s military and Hezbollah over the Israel-Lebanon border has increased in recent days, and Herzog said that if the militant group “drags us into war, it should be clear that Lebanon will pay the price.”
Macron told Herzog that he shares his view that all hostages should be released without distinction, accusing Hamas of playing with people’s lives, but said Israel’s military should conduct “targeted operations” against the militant group.
He also said he shares the view that the war should not spread.
“I think this is our duty to fight against these terrorist groups without any confusion, without — I would say — enlarging this conflict and I share the warnings you passed,” he said.
“I want you to be sure that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and your nation, and we’ll do whatever we can to restore peace, security and stability for your country and the whole region.”
Macron’s visit to Tel Aviv is the latest by a world leader to the Middle Eastern country in the past two weeks since the war began. President Joe Biden visited late last week as the first American leader to be in Israel amid war. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also visited last week.
Several U.S. politicians from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Sens. Chuck Schumer, Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy have also made visits to the country amid its war.