Macron proposes anti-Islamic State coalition to fight Hamas
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Without mentioning a single Israeli massacre or war crime, he did add that the fight should be "without mercy but not without rules."
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron before their talks in occupied al-Quds, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron advocated broadening a multinational coalition that is claimed to be battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to include Hamas.
Macron did not elaborate on how the United States-led coalition which does not include "Israel" may be engaged but told Benjamin Netanyahu that terrorism was a "common enemy" for both France and the Israelis.
Macron told reporters that "France is ready for the international coalition against Daesh in which we are taking part in operations in Iraq and Syria to also fight against Hamas."
Without mentioning a single Israeli massacre or war crime, he did add that the fight should be "without mercy but not without rules."
Netanyahu on his end called the battle between the "axis of evil" and "the free world."
The U.S.-led coalition that occupies Syria under the guise of fighting ISIS was formed in September 2014.
Macron explained that the coalition is not only on the ground but also involved in training and "sharing information between partners," in addition to challenging terrorism funding.
In a meeting with families of French hostages, Macron expressed that freeing them was a priority.
He is scheduled to meet with leaders of the region in Amman Jordan on Tuesday and meet with Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the West Bank.
Israeli captive Yocheved Lifshitz, who was released by the Qassam Brigades yesterday, said that the Al-Qassam Brigades were very friendly towards them, took care of them, and provided them with medicine.
During the press conference held in a hospital in "Tel Aviv", she was asked why she shook hands with a member of the Hamas movement, she said it was because "They treated us very well."
Last week, Abu Obeida revealed that the Resistance is holding captives of different nationalities, adding that there was no opportunity to verify their identities amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, vowing to keep them safe and treat them well, keeping in mind the indiscriminate Israeli strikes and shelling on Gaza.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
