Already the United States has a significant naval build-up in the Mediterranean and Mideast region, but over the weekend France has newly announced it is also sending a warship related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

"France is preparing to send its Dixmude helicopter carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to offer medical assistance in Gaza," the office of the French president announced. 

The warship is set to deploy "at the start of the week and arrive in Egypt in the coming days," according to President Emmanuel Macron's office. The statement underscored a purely humanitarian aid mission.