William Molinié, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: MARINE GONARD / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
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8:41 a.m., October 26, 2023
On Wednesday, during his trip to Egypt, Emmanuel Macron addressed Arab countries alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. On site, the Head of State assured that France was going to send a military ship to “support the hospitals”, the Tonnerre, which Europe 1 is analyzing for you this Thursday.
Thunder is on its way. A French navy ship has set sail from Toulon to reach the eastern Mediterranean. On Wednesday evening, Emmanuel Macron announced, during his trip to Egypt, that France was going to send a military ship to Gaza to “support the hospitals”, deprived of electricity due to lack of fuel due to the “complete siege” decreed by Israel.
Several army helicopters on board
Having just returned from the coast of Cadiz in Spain for a European military exercise, the amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre left Toulon on Wednesday afternoon. Its crew had only 48 hours to reconfigure. It is currently only equipped with a light hospital structure, but it can quickly scale up: up to 750 m², two operating theaters and intensive care beds. “It’s a large, versatile ship, a sort of Swiss army knife,” explains a military source.
According to information from Europe 1, several army helicopters were taken on board to allow, if necessary, the evacuation of the 170 French nationals, including many humanitarian workers, present in the Gaza Strip. In the Eastern Mediterranean, the Tonnerre will join two French frigates already in the area: the multi-mission Alsace and the stealthy Surcouf. They are responsible for protecting this floating hospital in an environment where there are already numerous warships, both allies and enemies.