French president warns massive ground operation into Gaza by Israel would be ‘a mistake’

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - France’s president warned Wednesday that a massive ground operation into the Gaza Strip by Israel would be a mistake, according to media reports.

"It would also be a mistake for Israel because it would be unlikely to offer long-term protection and because it is incompatible with protecting the civilian population or respecting international humanitarian law and the rules of war,” Emmanuel Macron said following his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in Cairo, said BFMTV.

"France does not practice double standards, international law applies to everyone, and France carries universal values of humanism,” he said.

Macron also said: “All lives are equal, all victims deserve our compassion, our lasting commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

He said a French Navy ship will soon leave the port of Toulouse to support hospitals in Gaza.

A French plane will also arrive in Egypt Thursday with medical equipment for the Palestinian population in the enclave, he said.

The conflict in Gaza 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.

The Palestine resistance group 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.

More than 7,900 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

UN chief Antonio Guterres, who was "shocked by the misinterpretations" of his remarks at the Security Council about Israel, reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to "ease suffering, make the delivery of aid easier & safer, and facilitate the release of hostages."