French President Emmanuel Macron has visited the Egyptian city of El-Arish, a key transit point for Gaza-bound aid, to call on Israel to lift its blockade of aid deliveries to the battered Palestinian territory, AFP reports.

Alongside his Egyptian host Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Macron toured a hospital in the port city, 50 kilometres west of the Gaza Strip, and met with medical professionals and sick and wounded Palestinians evacuated from Gaza.

Carrying a bouquet of red roses to give to patients, the French president visited several wards as well as a play area for children.

His office said the trip was aimed at piling pressure on Israel for “the reopening of crossing points for the delivery of humanitarian goods into Gaza”.