French President Macron called for a halt on arms deliveries to Israel for use in Gaza, calling for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Amid escalating tensions in Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for an arms embargo against Israel a “shame”. Netanyahu said that all “civilised countries” should support Israel in its war against Iran. Criticising French President’s step, Netanyahu asked if Iran has imposed any embargo on Hezbollah, Houthis or Hamas.
“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilised countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side. Yet President Macron and some other Western leaders are now calling for an arms embargo against Israel. Shame on them,” said Netanyahu in a video message on Saturday.
“The axis of terror stands together, but countries that supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel. What a disgrace,” Netanyahu said in his message to Macron. Asserting that Israel is fighting on 7 fronts, Netanyahu said that the country will win “with or without the support of the Western countries.”
Israel has pressed forward on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah and conducting strikes in Gaza. Further, Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate for Iran’s ballistic missile attack, as the region braced for further escalation.
Why Macron Called For An Embargo?
French President Macron called for a halt on arms deliveries to Israel for use in Gaza, calling for a diplomatic resolution. He also criticised Netanyahu’s decision to send armed troops into ground operations in Lebanon. Macron said that the war in Middle East is leading to “hatred”.
“I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron told French broadcaster France Inter as he highlighted that tensions continue to escalate despite multiple calls for ceasefire.
Macron along with US President Joe Biden had proposed a 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent an escalation of war and give diplomacy a chance there and in Gaza. But, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected the proposal saying that the military will continue to fight with “full force”. “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes.” said Netanyahu.
France Responds To Netanyahu
As Netanyahu slammed Macron for his embargo call, the French President said that the two countries are “steadfast friends”. Macron’s office stated that France mobilised its military this week during Iran’s missile attack, as it did in April, adding that the French President had personally told Iranian President about his commitment to Israel’s security.
“We must return to diplomatic solutions. France is Israel’s steadfast friend, Netanyahu’s words are excessive and unrelated to the friendship between France and Israel,” Macron’s office said according to the Times of Israel.
My message to Macron >> pic.twitter.com/BHyh0Fso19
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 5, 2024