French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that France is prepared to treat injured or ill Gazan children requiring emergency care. In a statement on the platform “Ex”, Macron said that France would mobilize all available resources, especially air transport, to facilitate the treatment of these children in France if it is beneficial and necessary. The measures in place can accommodate up to 50 patients in French hospitals.
Detailing France’s latest humanitarian aid measures for the Middle East, Macron outlined the deployment of medical resources at sea with the sailing of the helicopter carrier “Dixmude” at the beginning of the week. The “Dixmude” is equipped to support hospitals with a capacity of 40 beds and is set to arrive in Egypt in the coming days. It will be dedicated to treating the most severe cases and allowing for the treatment of injured civilians in nearby hospitals if necessary.
Macron also mentioned that a new air force plane would transport over 10 tons of medical supplies at the beginning of the week, including two mobile health stations capable of treating about 500 adult patients each.
Furthermore, Macron emphasized the urgency and security of humanitarian aid delivery. He called for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire. He reiterated his commitment to doing everything possible to release all hostages, especially the eight French nationals.
In a related event, thousands of people participated in a “silent” and “non-political” march for peace in the Middle East in Paris on Sunday. Among the participants were former Culture Minister and President of the Arab World Institute Jack Lang, actress Isabelle Adjani, and writer Marek Halter. Lang expressed support for the unifying demonstration, emphasizing the public’s desire for calm.
This event follows widespread demonstrations across France, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated after an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian movement on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Tel Aviv vowed to “eliminate” Hamas, launching an intense aerial and artillery bombardment campaign, leading to ground operations since October 27. According to Hamas government figures, this has resulted in the deaths of over 12,300 people in the Gaza Strip, predominantly civilians, including more than 5,000 children and 3,300 women.
This context underscores the urgency and importance of Macron’s offer to provide medical treatment to Gazan children, reflecting France’s commitment to humanitarian assistance in conflict zones and the broader international response to the crisis in Gaza.
