Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz responded today (Wednesday) to remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron. In an interview with French television yesterday, Macron criticized Israel over the fighting in Gaza and the humanitarian situation there. He described Netanyahu’s policy as “shameful” and called for harsher sanctions against Israel.
“Israel will not stop and will not surrender”
“Macron has once again chosen to side with a murderous Islamist terror organization and amplify its false propaganda, while falsely accusing Israel of blood libels,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “Instead of supporting the democratic Western camp that is fighting Islamist terror organizations and calling for the release of hostages, Macron once again demands that Israel surrender and reward terror.”
“Israel will not stop and will not surrender: we will free all our hostages, defeat Hamas militarily and politically, and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” the statement continued.
Defense Minister: “The IDF operates with unmatched morality – far more than France did in any of its wars”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also condemned Macron’s comments: “We remember well what happened to the Jews in France when they were unable to defend themselves. President Macron should not preach to us about morality,” he said.
“One who claims to be a friend of Israel is expected to stand by Israel in its war against the murderous terror organization Hamas and the Iranian axis of evil that seeks to destroy the State of Israel – rather than trying to deny us the right to self-defense,” Katz added.
“The IDF operates with a level of morality unmatched under such difficult and complex conditions – certainly far more than anything France has done in its past wars,” the defense minister emphasized.
French President: “Netanyahu’s policy is shameful”
In an interview with the French television channel TF1 yesterday, President Macron said: “Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, where half a million people are facing starvation, is shameful. Europe should consider increasing sanctions on Israel.”
Macron further stated: “What Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is doing is unacceptable. There’s no water or medicine, the wounded cannot leave, and doctors cannot enter.”
“Today we need the United States, because the one with the leverage is President Trump. I was angry with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but France alone – even together with the rest of the Europeans – can apply all the pressure in the world, but it won’t matter. It depends on American weapons,” he added.
