In a concerted effort with Israeli and Egyptian authorities to provide medical aid to those affected by Israeli bombardments in the besieged region, France is planning to send a second helicopter carrier off the coast of Gaza.
Paris has already deployed the carrier “Tonnerre” to the Eastern Mediterranean, a move President Emmanuel Macron described as a mission to support hospitals in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Egypt commenced accepting a limited number of injured individuals across its border with Gaza this week.
However, the exact role the ships will play in the region remains unclear as they are too small to operate as field hospitals accommodating the influx of casualties from Gaza.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, informed Radio France Info that the helicopter carrier Dixmude is also now en route to the area, with preparations underway to convert it into a hospital ship.
Lecornu added, “It is being equipped to be transformed into a hospital ship.”
A French military source stated that the carrier Tonnerre, housing around 60 beds and two surgical operation wings, can only serve temporarily and as a support to a larger hospital on land.
When asked about the possibilities of transferring individuals from land to sea, Lecornu mentioned that planning is ongoing and discussions with Egyptian and Israeli authorities continue.
He emphasized, “The idea is to tell all the active parties in this conflict that we cannot leave civilians at risk, and above all, without a solution for healthcare on a humanitarian level.”
He expressed hope that France’s decision would encourage others to also send ships
