French-Israeli reservists heading to Tel Aviv to fight alongside Israel's army

By Alaattin Dogru

Israeli-French reservists in France are heading to Tel Aviv to join Israel army as the armed conflict escalates, local media reported on Monday.

Many French-Israeli reservists have begun to leave France to join the Israeli Armed Forces, with bookings for early possible flights, French broadcaster BFMTV reported.

Arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the capital Paris, Israeli reserve soldier Mickael Alhadeff said he would take the first available flight to the region to join the army.​

The French government has come under fire on social media for allowing people to travel to Israel while barring others from traveling to support Palestine.

Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.

At least 800 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 508 Palestinians and wounding over 2,800 others.

Early Monday, a military spokesman said that Israeli army had called up around 100,000 reservists.