Egypt Daily News – In a speech delivered Friday at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the West risks “losing all its credibility in the eyes of the world” if it “abandons Gaza and allows Israel to do whatever it wants.” His remarks sparked sharp criticism from Israel, which accused Macron of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state.”
Macron’s comments came as he called on the international community to adopt a firmer stance toward Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve. “This is why we reject double standards,” he said, stressing that this principle also applies to the war in Ukraine.
He further urged the building of new alliances based on the rule of law and a rejection of double standards in the face of power politics and the dominance of major powers. “We are facing a challenge from states… that seek to impose coercion in the name of spheres of influence,” he said.
“A new alliance between Europe and Asia”
Macron added, “Let us build a new, positive alliance between Europe and Asia, based on our shared standards and principles,” so that we do not become “collateral victims” of decisions made by major powers such as the United States or China.
Referring to Beijing, he warned: “If we allow Russia to seize part of Ukraine’s territory unconditionally and without any global response, what message does that send about Taiwan?”
He also asserted that China must prevent North Korea from deploying its military forces “on European soil” in Ukraine alongside Russia. “If China does not want NATO involved in Southeast Asia or Asia, then it must clearly prevent North Korea from interfering in Europe,” he added.
“A crusade against the Jewish state”
In response, Israeli authorities accused President Macron of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state” following his call for increased international pressure on Israel in the absence of humanitarian improvements in Gaza.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, “There is no humanitarian siege. That is an outright lie,” noting that Israel had resumed allowing aid into the Gaza Strip.
The statement continued: “Instead of pressuring jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them by granting them a Palestinian state. There’s no doubt that its national day would be October 7,” in reference to the Hamas attack in 2023 that triggered the current war.
Israel has been found committing genocide, countless war crimes and assassinations of civilians in Gaza, killing and injuring more that 50,000 children, additionally the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal accused by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. An arrest warrant has been issued for him.
