Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized President Macron’s position on the Gaza war, labeling his call to halt arms deliveries as “a disgrace.” Explore the implications of this escalating diplomatic clash.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his appeal to halt weapon shipments to Israel in light of the ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and Iran.
In an interview broadcast by French media on Saturday, Macron advocated for “a political solution” to the Middle East conflict and suggested that Western countries should “cease supplying weapons for combat in Gaza.” He referred to the ongoing hostilities as “a mistake,” cautioning against transforming Lebanon into “another Gaza.”
Netanyahu issued a passionate statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), directly addressing Macron. He claimed that Israel is battling “on seven fronts against the enemies of civilization,” highlighting conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, along with Iran and its allies in Syria and Iraq. “All civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side,” he asserted.
“Nevertheless, President Macron and other Western leaders are currently advocating for arms embargoes against Israel. ‘Shame on them,’ Netanyahu stated, describing the initiative as a ‘disgrace’ and asserting that Israel would prevail ‘with or without their support.'”
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“Their shame, however, will persist long after victory in the war,” he stated.
As of Monday, Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza will mark its second year, having resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths. The hostilities began following an unexpected Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which led to around 1,100 Israeli casualties and approximately 250 individuals being taken hostage.
Recently, Israel has escalated its bombing campaign in Lebanon and initiated cross-border ground raids aimed at Hezbollah sites. Since October 2023, the pro-Palestinian group has been launching rockets into Israel to support Hamas. Israeli authorities have stated that this operation is essential for ensuring the safe return of 70,000 residents who fled northern Israel due to Hezbollah attacks.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), 440 Hezbollah fighters have been killed. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in over 2,000 fatalities and displaced more than 1.2 million people.
