France steps up protection for Jewish sites after Hamas attack

As fighting continues to rage around the Gaza Strip after a surprise assault by Palestinian militants, France's government has ordered extra security around potential Jewish targets and cancelled a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

A soldier from the French Foreign Legion stands guard outside a synagogue in Marseille after terrorist attacks by Islamist militants, on 13 January 2015. © REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson

The French government focused on synagogues and Jewish schools in cities across the country.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sent an urgent message to regional officials to reinforce surveillance and called for the use of soldiers from France's Operation Sentinelle, a force deployed across the country since the 2015 terror attacks.

"At a time when terrorist attacks from Gaza are hitting Israel, I ask you to immediately step up vigilance, security and protection of Jewish community sites in France," he wrote in a message seen by French news agency AFP.

France's Jewish population, estimated at over 500,000, is the largest in Europe and the third-biggest in the world, after Israel and the United States.

A government spokesperson said a pro-Palestinian rally scheduled for Monday evening in Lyon would be banned due to the "risk of disturbing public order".

French citizens killed, missing

At least one French national is among more than 1,100 people killed in the fighting so far. 

A French woman died in the "terrorist attacks", France's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday, adding that several other French citizens remain unaccounted for. 

It said it had put in place a crisis unit to assist French people living in or visiting the region.

Meanwhile Air France has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv.

• Israel vows 'mighty vengeance' after Hamas surprise attack

The Israeli army continues to bombard the Gaza Strip, hitting more than 500 targets overnight between Sunday and Monday. 

Israel has officially declared war on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza and which launched a massive surprise attack on Saturday morning.

More than 700 Israelis have been killed since then, the Israel Defence Forces said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically.

In Gaza officials have reported over 400 deaths, with more than 2,200 people injured.

Western countries have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the US and EU consider a terrorist group.

(with AFP)