French President Macron Calls Israel’s Actions in Gaza “Shameful” Amid Ongoing Conflict

French President Macron Calls Israel’s Actions in Gaza “Shameful” Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a three-hour televised interview on Tuesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “shameful.”

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized Macron, stating that the French president had “once again decided to stand by Hamas.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Netanyahu wrote:
“Instead of standing with the Western democratic camp fighting against an Islamist terrorist organization and calling for the release of hostages, Macron is once again telling Israel to surrender and rewarding terrorism.”
He added, “Israel will not stop, nor will it surrender.”

Netanyahu’s remarks came after Macron’s lengthy interview, during which the French president urged Europe to consider imposing sanctions on Israel, citing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza where hundreds of thousands of people are reportedly facing starvation.
In the interview, broadcast on French television channel TF1, Macron said, “What Netanyahu is doing is shameful.”

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has now entered its 19th month. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages.