Macron on 'crusade against Jewish state,' Israel says following criticism of Gaza war

Published connected 30/05/2025 - 19:10 GMT+2•Updated 19:18

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of being connected a "crusade against nan Jewish state," aft he urged nan world organization to harden its stance towards Israel if nan humanitarian business successful Gaza doesn’t improve.

"There is nary humanitarian blockade. This is simply a blatant lie," nan ministry said, defending its power complete nan travel of assistance into nan enclave.

"But alternatively of putting unit connected jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them pinch a Palestinian state. No uncertainty his nationalist vacation will beryllium October 7," nan connection said, referring to nan 7 October 2023 Hamas-led onslaught connected Israel that sparked nan warfare successful Gaza.

During a three-hour televised question and reply earlier successful May, Macron said Europe should see sanctioning Israel complete nan humanitarian business successful Gaza, wherever hundreds of thousands are thought to beryllium now facing starvation.

"What he's doing is shameful," Macron said of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during nan question and reply connected TF1 television.

Those remarks sparked an contiguous rebuke from Netanyahu, who said Macron "once again chose to stand" pinch Hamas.

After a erstwhile ceasefire pinch Hamas collapsed successful March, Israel imposed a blockade connected Gaza, pinch nary assistance allowed into nan Strip for almost 3 months.

That business has eased somewhat successful caller days but assistance organisations still pass of wide hunger and imminent famine crossed astir of Gaza.

Just complete a week ago, nan UK authorities said it was suspending free waste and acquisition negotiations pinch Israel and had introduced caller sanctions connected settlements successful nan West Bank arsenic Westminster ramped up its disapproval of nan ongoing subject cognition successful Gaza.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said nan UK's existing waste and acquisition statement pinch Israel remains successful effect but nan authorities couldn't proceed discussions pinch an management pursuing what he called "egregious" policies successful nan 2 territories.

"I want to put connected grounds coming that we’re horrified by nan escalation from Israel," Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament successful London.

Those remarks followed a associated condemnation he issued connected 19 May pinch Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that marked 1 of nan astir important criticisms by adjacent friends of Israel’s handling of nan warfare successful Gaza and its actions successful the West Bank.

The 3 leaders threatened to return "concrete actions" if nan authorities of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not cease its renewed subject violative and importantly assistance restrictions connected humanitarian aid.

Criticism from Germany

And connected 26 May, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a uncommon disapproval of Israel and its plans to return power of astir of Gaza, stating he "no longer understands" nan extremity goal.

"The Israeli authorities must not do thing that moreover its champion friends are nary longer consenting to accept," said Merz astatine nan WDR Europaforum successful Berlin.

"What nan Israeli service is now doing successful nan Gaza Strip, I frankly nary longer understand pinch what goal," he added.

The warfare began erstwhile Hamas militants attacked confederate Israel connected 7 October 2023, sidesplitting astir 1,200 people, astir of them civilians.

Hamas took 251 group arsenic hostages, and is presently holding 58, of whom 2 thirds are believed to still beryllium alive. A consequent Israeli violative has to day killed astatine slightest 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to nan Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figures do not separate betwixt fighters and civilians.