French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Friday, May 30th, that France could toughen its stance against Israel if it persists in blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, reiterating Paris’s commitment to a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is unsustainable on the ground,” Macron said at a joint press conference in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“And therefore, if in the coming hours and days there is no response that corresponds to the humanitarian situation, we will obviously have to harden our collective stance,” Macron said, adding that France could consider imposing sanctions against Israeli settlers in illegal settlements.
“But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response.”
Under increasing international pressure, Israel last week partially ended an 11-week blockade of aid to Gaza, allowing a limited amount of aid to be delivered under a system that has been heavily criticized.
Macron said Paris is committed to working towards a political solution and reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The existence of a Palestinian state “is not only a moral duty but also a political necessity,” Macron told reporters in Singapore, in comments broadcast by French television.
Diplomats and experts say Macron is inclined to recognize a Palestinian state, a move that could anger Israel and deepen divisions in the West.
French officials are considering this move ahead of a United Nations conference, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia from June 17-20, to establish parameters for a roadmap towards a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel’s security.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack in the south on October 7, 2023, in which, according to Israeli data, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken to Gaza.
In the war since then, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza health authorities say.
