French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Union to increase its pressure on Israel regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In an interview with TF1 broadcast on Wednesday, Macron emphasized the ongoing discussions and collaborative agreements with Israel, raising it as a pertinent issue for European leaders.
He referenced recent comments from the Dutch government, which has called for a collective reassessment of trade relations between the EU and Israel. The Netherlands has historically been one of Israel’s closest allies within Europe.
When asked by a viewer why France had not imposed sanctions on Israel, Macron responded, “We cannot pretend that nothing has happened, so yes… we will need to increase pressure on these matters.”
However, he also pointed out that only the United States can truly effect change on the ground by imposing conditions on its military aid to Israel.
The French President criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for adopting an “unacceptable” and “shameful” stance by obstructing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
These remarks highlight the escalating tensions between Israel and some of its traditional allies amid the ongoing conflict that erupted nearly 19 months ago, leading to significant devastation in Gaza.