Gaza: Macron Urges Netanyahu to End Civilians’ Ordeal and Renews Call for a Palestinian State

A Call for Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid, and a Political Solution

During a phone conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, April 15, Emmanuel Macron urged the Israeli Prime Minister to bring an end to the “ordeal” endured by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The French President called for an immediate ceasefire, which he sees as essential for the release of hostages still held by Hamas, and emphasized the urgent need to open “all humanitarian aid crossing points,” describing it as a vital necessity for civilians.

Macron referenced his recent trip to Al-Arish, Egypt, where he observed firsthand that humanitarian aid was being blocked at the border. “It must reach civilians as quickly as possible,” he insisted in a message posted on social media platform X.

Toward a Diplomatic Initiative at the UN in June

The French President also reiterated his support for a political solution based on the coexistence of two states. He announced that the upcoming June conference at the UN—co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia—is intended to spark a peace dynamic. The goal of the conference is to initiate a series of formal recognitions of a Palestinian state, including by France, and of Israel by several Arab countries.

Benjamin Netanyahu, however, firmly rejected this prospect, stating that the creation of a Palestinian state would represent “a huge reward for terrorism.” According to his office, he warned Macron that such a state, located just minutes from Israeli cities, would become “an outpost of Iranian terrorism.” Netanyahu’s office also noted that “no Palestinian entity” had condemned the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

France’s position in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state has drawn criticism from parts of the Israeli government as well as some segments of the French political landscape.