French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent call for halting arms deliveries to Israel for its operations in Gaza has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Macron made the statement during an interview with France Inter radio, urging a focus on political solutions over military escalation in the Gaza conflict.
“The priority is that we return to a political solution and stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron said. His remarks were echoed at a summit in Paris, where he criticized the ongoing conflict despite calls for a ceasefire and voiced disapproval over Israel’s deployment of ground troops into Lebanon. Macron further stressed that avoiding an escalation in Lebanon should be a “priority” to prevent it from turning into “a new Gaza.”
Netanyahu quickly responded with harsh condemnation, accusing Macron and other Western leaders of abandoning Israel. In a video released by his office, Netanyahu stated, “Shame on them… Israel will win with or without their support.” He labeled the call for an arms embargo as “a disgrace,” adding that any nation not standing by Israel was indirectly supporting Iran and its militant proxies.
Netanyahu underscored Israel’s right to defend itself against what he termed “forces of barbarism led by Iran,” emphasizing that “all civilized countries” should back Israel’s military efforts.
Despite the heated exchange, Macron reiterated France’s commitment to Israel’s security, noting that France is a “steadfast friend of Israel.” However, he also expressed concerns over Israel’s military approach, particularly its ground operations in Lebanon, stressing that “Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza.” Macron will meet with relatives of Franco-Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Monday, coinciding with the anniversary of Hamas’s deadly October 7th attack on Israel, which left 1,200 dead and saw over 250 people taken hostage.
The humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict has escalated dramatically, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 41,000 casualties in Gaza since the conflict’s start.
