France condemned the violent acts perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, labeling them as a form of “terrorism policy” aimed at displacing Palestinians.
The French Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Anne-Claire Legendre, urged Israeli authorities to protect Palestinians from such violence.
Speaking to journalists, Legendre also mentioned that around half of the 100-ton aid shipment sent by France has successfully entered Gaza.
She emphasized that Israel does not have the right to dictate who will govern Gaza in the future, asserting that the region should be an integral part of a prospective Palestinian state.
These statements mark a notable shift in France’s stance on the Palestinian issue and the Israeli offensive in Gaza. This shift comes in the wake of what French newspaper Le Figaro described as a “diplomatic rebellion” against President Emmanuel Macron’s perceived bias towards Israel.
According to Le Figaro, several French ambassadors in the Middle East have expressed their dissatisfaction with Macron’s stance in a letter, lamenting his apparent bias towards Israel.
This development indicates a potential change in the diplomatic dynamics of the region, with France taking a more assertive role in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Macron reached out to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to offer clarifications on his recent statements regarding the conflict in Gaza.
Macron’s call appeared to be an attempt to mitigate the impact of his previous critical remarks about Israel’s military actions against Hamas, made on Friday.
In an interview with the BBC, Macron stated that there was no justification for Israel’s alleged bombing of civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
He called for Israel to halt its actions and emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, a proposition Israel has rejected, citing it as a potential victory for the Hamas group.
