President Macron Will Tighten Attitudes Against Israel If Gaza Blockade Continues

JAKARTA - France will tighten its position against Israel if it continues to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, reaffirming Paris' commitment to a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The humanitarian blocade created a situation that cannot be maintained on the ground," President Macron said at a news conference with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Singapore.

"So if there is no response that fits the humanitarian situation within the hours and days to come, obviously, we have to tighten our collective position," he warned, adding France might consider imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers.

"But I still hope the Israeli government will change its stance and we will eventually have a humanitarian response," added President Macron.

Under increasing international pressure, Israel ended part of an 11-week aid blockade in Gaza last week, allowing limited amounts of aid to be delivered under a system that has been heavily criticized.

President Macron said Paris was committed to seeking political solutions and reaffirming its support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The existence of a Palestinian state is "not just a moral obligation but also a political necessity," President Macron told reporters in Singapore, in comments broadcast on French TV.

President Macron is leaning towards recognition of the Palestinian state, diplomats and experts say, a move that could anger Israel and deepen divisions in the West.

French officials are considering the move ahead of the United Nations conference, jointly organized by France and Saudi Arabia between June 17-20, to set parameters for a roadmap to the Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security.

It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, after a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, leaving 1,200 people dead and 251 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

On January 19, the two countries imposed a ceasefire agreement and exchanged hostages, following a deal reached days earlier between Hamas and Israel through Egyptian, Qatar and US intermediaries.

Israel again carried out a total blockade of all aid on March 2, saying it was carried out to pressure the Hamas group to accept the ceasefire's proposal and release all hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Separately, medical sources in Gaza confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from Palestinian attacks since October 2023 had risen to 54,249, while injuries reached 123,492, the majority of victims were women and children, quoted from WAFA.