French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the Israeli army’s military operations in Gaza are undermining its credibility in the eyes of the international community, writes Politico.
Macron said in an interview with the Israeli broadcaster “Channel 12” that operations like those in Gaza are counterproductive, and he would call it a failure. He added that Israel is causing so many civilian casualties that it is completely destroying its image not only in the region, but in the eyes of the entire world community.
Israel began bombing the coastal enclave in October 2023, after the terrorist group Hamas invaded Israel. This week, the Israeli army launched a new ground operation to take over Gaza City, thereby expanding its campaign against the Palestinian armed group. Macron called the operation a huge mistake that will reignite European discussions on sanctions against Israeli officials.
Macron’s comments came at a time when
diplomatic relations between France and Israel are already tense.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the French president’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood. Macron announced in late July that France, along with other countries, would recognize Palestine on the 22nd of September at the UN General Assembly. This led to a sharp exchange of words with Israel.
In a letter to Macron on the 17th of August, Netanyahu accused the Frenchman of inciting anti-Semitism. Macron responded by rejecting the accusation, and in an interview on the 18th of September said he was disappointed by such allegations. “I think it’s a huge mistake on the part of your prime minister, because he is giving a justification to antisemitism, putting it on my shoulders because probably it was his objective. But there is no justification to antisemitism,” Macron said in a televised address. Defending the country’s policy, the French president said recognizing Palestinian statehood was the best way to fight Hamas.
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