French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a strong warning to Israel over its ongoing obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza, signaling that France may impose sanctions if the blockade continues.

His remarks reflect growing international condemnation of Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza reaches alarming levels.

“The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground,” Macron declared during a joint press conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He emphasized that unless Israel immediately allows the flow of aid, France and other European countries must “toughen their collective position.”

Macron underscored that the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza demand urgent international response, including sanctions against violent Israeli settlers. “If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel—even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks—we will kill our credibility,” Macron said at a security forum in Singapore, alluding to the silence and complicity of Western powers in the face of Palestinian suffering.

He expressed hope that Israel would reverse its stance and permit unimpeded humanitarian access to the besieged enclave, where over two million Palestinians are struggling with food shortages, lack of medical supplies, and a decimated infrastructure after months of relentless bombardment.

Israel Responds with Denial and Deflection

Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Macron’s statements, calling them “a blatant lie,” and falsely claimed that 900 aid trucks had entered Gaza following the lifting of a months-long aid blockade. However, humanitarian organizations and UN officials paint a starkly different picture.

The Israeli government has promoted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a success, boasting of distributing over two million meals. Yet critics argue the aid is grossly insufficient and misleading, as the majority consists of dry food requiring cooking equipment—largely unavailable due to Israel’s deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, including power and water supplies.

In reality, only about 40 trucks’ worth of aid have reached people in need through GHF. The remainder, meant for distribution by the UN, remains undelivered because Israel has failed to provide safe corridors for humanitarian staff. UN sources report that Israeli forces have even fired at aid centers, rendering them inaccessible.

Rather than address the growing outcry, the Israeli Foreign Ministry turned its attack on Macron, accusing him of “rewarding Hamas” and claiming the French president is pushing for a Palestinian state—long denied by Israel despite decades of illegal occupation and settlement expansion.

Germany Signals Possible Arms Freeze Over Gaza Concerns

Echoing Macron’s concerns, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced that Berlin is reassessing future weapons exports to Israel. Speaking to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Wadephul questioned whether Israel’s military conduct in Gaza complies with international law and humanitarian principles.

Germany, which traditionally upholds a pro-Israel policy rooted in historical guilt over the Holocaust, is now facing internal and external pressure to rethink its unconditional support in light of Israel’s escalating war crimes and the staggering humanitarian toll on Palestinians.

Wadephul acknowledged this shift, stating that Germany would base future decisions on a thorough assessment of the crisis on the ground. His remarks suggest a possible rupture in Europe’s long-standing complicity with Israeli impunity.

Mounting Calls for Accountability

As Gaza faces widespread famine, destroyed hospitals, and mass displacement, calls for accountability are growing louder. President Macron’s remarks reflect the beginning of a broader reckoning within Western political circles, where unconditional support for Israel is increasingly challenged by public opinion and undeniable evidence of human rights abuses.

For the people of Gaza, however, words alone offer little relief. Unless concrete international action—including sanctions and arms embargoes—is taken, Palestinians will continue to suffer under what human rights organizations increasingly describe as apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes. (ILKHA)