France ready to find ways to fight Hamas: Presidency

By Feiza Ben Mohamed

NICE, France (AA) - France is ready to find ways to fight the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, the French presidency told Anadolu on Tuesday.

"It is a matter of inspiration from the experience of the international coalition against Daesh/ISIS and to see which aspects are applicable to Hamas," it said in a statement.

"France is ready to conceive with its partners and Israel, relevant actions against Hamas," it said, adding that Israel and the partners would then have to express their needs.

The statement noted the coalition was not limited to field operations but also comprised training of Iraqi forces, sharing information and fighting terrorism financing.

French President Emmanuel Macron held a joint news conference in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Tuesday.

He expressed France's support to Israel and suggested forming an international and regional coalition, such as the one against the Daesh/ISIS to fight other terror groups.

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.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of 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 enclave said, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, as well as 15,273 people injured.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since fighting began earlier this month, according to Israeli authorities.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara