Key facts
- French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Israel's military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon are contrary to Israel's long-term interests.
- Macron described the Gaza offensive as a "failure" and "counterproductive" due to the high number of civilian casualties.
- Macron condemned Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank as a political project designed to kill the possibility of a two-state solution.
- Macron rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusations that France's recognition of a Palestinian state fuels antisemitism.
- Macron announced France would proceed with recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticized Israel's military actions and policies in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, stating that they are counterproductive and detrimental to Israel's own interests and global credibility.
In an interview with France 2, Macron urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demonstrate responsibility, asserting that Tel Aviv's military strategy in the region "runs contrary to Israel's own interests" in the long run. He specifically condemned the military offensive in Gaza as a "huge mistake" and a "failure," highlighting the high number of civilian casualties that he believes are destroying Israel's image worldwide.