Macron Warns France May Sanction Israel Over Gaza Aid Blockade, Backs Two-State Solution

Macron’s Warning to Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that France might take a tougher stance on Israel if it keeps blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also repeated that France supports the idea of a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking at a press conference in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Macron said, “The aid blockade is making things unbearable for people in Gaza. If there’s no improvement in the next few hours or days, we may have to take stronger action.” He also said France could consider placing sanctions on Israeli settlers.

However, Macron added, “I still hope the Israeli government will change its position and allow more aid to reach Gaza.”

Last week, after facing global pressure, Israel allowed some aid into Gaza after blocking it for 11 weeks. But many critics say the new system for sending aid is still not enough.

Israel’s foreign ministry denied that there is a blockade, calling the claim “a blatant lie.” They said nearly 900 trucks with aid had entered Gaza since the rules were relaxed, and that the U.S.-supported plan has already provided 2 million meals and thousands of aid packages.

“Instead of putting pressure on terrorist groups, Macron wants to reward them by supporting a Palestinian state,” the Israeli ministry said in a statement.

Macron said France will keep working for a political solution and repeated his support for a two-state outcome. “Having a Palestinian state is not just the right thing to do—it’s also necessary for peace,” he said.

Some experts and diplomats believe Macron is getting closer to officially recognizing a Palestinian state. If he does, it could upset Israel and create more disagreements among Western countries.

French officials are currently discussing the idea. France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a United Nations meeting in June, where they plan to discuss the path toward creating a Palestinian state while also making sure Israel feels secure.

Israel began its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken, according to Israel. Since then, Gaza health authorities say more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

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