French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the establishment of an international coalition to combat the Palestinian militant group Hamas during his recent visit to the Middle East. Macron put forward this proposition while meeting with leaders in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt, though no public response was given by these officials.
Macron initially presented his idea after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting the formation of a “regional and international coalition” to counter Hamas. The French presidency clarified that this proposal did not involve deploying troops, but rather focused on intelligence sharing and the disruption of terrorism financing.
American officials have acknowledged Macron’s proposal, but they have noted a lack of Arab interest in forming such a force at present. The United States believes that the cooperation and participation of Arab countries would be crucial for the success of any multinational operation.
Hamas has historically received support from Arab nations like Qatar and Turkey, but there has been a recent shift towards closer ties with Iran and its allies. As a result, garnering Arab support for a coalition against Hamas might prove challenging.
President Macron will continue to engage in discussions with France’s partners in the region over the next few days. In addition, he is scheduled to participate in a European summit in Brussels where the topic of countering Palestinian extremism is likely to be addressed.
The proposal put forth by Macron reflects ongoing concerns about the influence and activities of Hamas in the region. However, the success of any efforts to combat the group will depend on widespread international support and unified action against its activities.
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