Macron was due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express France's "full solidarity" with Israel, the French presidency said.

He was also expected to call for the "preservation of the civilian population" in Gaza, amid Israel's relentless bombardment, and as it prepares for a ground invasion of the overcrowded Palestinian territory.

Israel's attacks killed more than 5,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. 

Macron will in particular call for a "humanitarian truce" to allow desperately needed aid into Gaza, whose 2.4 million people have been largely deprived of water, food, electricity and other basic supplies after an Israeli blockade, the Elysee Palace said.

The French head of state was also due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as well as opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.

And in Tel Aviv, he was due to meet the 30 families of French and French-Israeli nationals who died on 7 October or being held captives in Gaza.

Seven French citizens are still missing: one of them, a French woman, has been confirmed as among the more than 200 people Israel says were taken captive. 

Macron has said the others are also thought to be captives, but there has not yet been confirmation.

The French president also aims to continue efforts "to avoid a dangerous escalation in the region", the Elysee said, amid growing alarm over swelling cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Macron will propose relaunching a "true peace process", with the aim of creating a viable Palestinian state in exchange for guarantees from regional powers towards "Israel's security".

There will also probably be exchanges with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and leaders of Gulf nations, the Elysee said.