Israel has lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state” following his recent remarks urging European nations to toughen their stance on Israel should the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue.
The Israeli foreign ministry issued a strongly worded response on Friday, denying claims of a humanitarian blockade on Gaza. “There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie,” the ministry stated, defending Israel’s facilitation of aid deliveries.
It further alleged that Macron was appeasing terrorist groups instead of condemning them. “But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state. No doubt its national day will be October 7,” it said, referencing the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Though Israel recently eased a blockade that had restricted aid to Gaza for over two months, shortages of food and medical supplies remain dire. Humanitarian deliveries have resumed, albeit gradually, amid calls from the international community for Israel to do more.
President Macron has recently amplified his support for the Palestinian people and, on Friday, called on European nations to adopt a firmer collective approach toward Israel’s actions. Speaking at a high-level defence forum in Singapore, Macron stated, “If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks, we will kill our credibility.” He emphasized that if Israel fails to address the worsening humanitarian conditions, the possibility of sanctions should remain on the table.
Macron also argued that acknowledging Palestinian statehood, under specific conditions, was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.”
His comments come ahead of an international conference being jointly organized by France and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The event aims to revive the vision of a two-state solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict — a prospect firmly rejected by the current Israeli administration led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In its statement, Israel’s foreign ministry suggested that Macron’s remarks had been welcomed by Hamas. “Hamas, for its part, has already praised Macron’s statements. Hamas knows why,” it said, casting further doubt on Macron’s intentions and implying alignment with terrorist interests.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and diplomatic tensions grow, the exchange underscores widening rifts between Israel and some of its Western allies over how to navigate one of the region’s most enduring conflicts.
What you should know
France’s President Macron has called for a tougher European position on Israel over the Gaza crisis, warning that credibility is at stake. Israel strongly rejected his claims and accused him of siding with Hamas.
The disagreement comes ahead of a UN conference co-led by France and Saudi Arabia aiming to push forward the two-state solution initiative.
