French President Emmanuel Macron is set to become the first Western leader to meet with both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President in the midst of the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has resulted in a significant loss of life.
During his visit, Macron aims to express solidarity with Israel, which has been engaged in intense fighting with Gaza’s Hamas rulers after a devastating attack, and to emphasize the importance of safeguarding the civilian population of Gaza amidst the ongoing bombing campaign.
Hamas launched a substantial attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 casualties and the abduction of more than 200 hostages, as reported by Israeli officials.
In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments have caused over 5,000 casualties in Gaza, according to the health ministry under Hamas rule.
Overnight Israeli strikes in the besieged Gaza Strip claimed an additional 140 lives, according to Hamas, following the release of two Israeli and foreign hostages abducted by the militant group.