Israel's goal to destroy Hamas risks decade of war: French president

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Saturday that Israel's aim of eliminating the Palestinian Hamas risked unleashing a decade of war.

Achieving the "destruction of Hamas" would mean "the war will last 10 years", Macron said at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN's COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

"So this objective must be clarified," he added. The French President called for intensified efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, a day after deadly fighting resumed between Israel and Hamas militants after a truce expired.

"This situation requires stepped-up efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire," to free all hostages held by Hamas, allow more urgently needed aid into Gaza, and to assure Israel of its security, he told a news conference on the sidelines of the UN's COP28 climate talks in Dubai.