Israel’s ambassador to France, Raphael Morav, asserted on the radio that the Jewish state does not permit foreign military personnel to take part in its operations. He spoke on Europe 1, making it clear that Israel has always relied on its own forces and would continue to do so. There can be no consideration of France sending troops to Israel or the Gaza Strip, Morav told the audience, effectively ruling out any deployment of French armed forces even if Paris favored such involvement.
Beyond this, Morav indicated a readiness to collaborate with France in intelligence sharing and efforts to combat terrorism financing. He acknowledged that there remains substantial work to be done in curbing the flow of money to extremist networks, with a particular emphasis on the role of cryptocurrencies in financing illicit activity.
That same evening, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari noted an expansion of land maneuvers in the Gaza Strip and a recent escalation of airstrikes, signaling that ground operations would continue. He contrasted this with Hamas statements claiming that Israel was conducting a broad assault on Gaza by land, sea, and air, underscoring the intense and multidimensional nature of the conflict.
On 7 October, Hamas launched a multi-faceted attack, firing thousands of rockets into Israel and announcing the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Thousands of militants reportedly crossed the border, seizing military equipment and taking more than a hundred hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that the nation was at war, directing the country’s focus to counter the escalation.
The Israeli defense effort, named Iron Swords, aimed at dismantling Hamas through comprehensive military action. The Israeli Air Force conducted hundreds of strikes against Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli National Security Council decided to cut off essential supplies to Gaza, including water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel, as part of a broader strategy to degrade Hamas’s capabilities.
Earlier reporting from Russia referenced the possibility of an end date for Israel’s war with Hamas, reflecting the varied international perspectives on the conflict and the ongoing international diplomacy surrounding it. The evolving security situation continues to shape the regional dynamics and the broader pursuit of stability in the region, with many watching closely how military operations, humanitarian concerns, and international support intersect in the days ahead.