Macron threatens sanctions on Israelis over Gaza aid crisis

Unless the Israeli government responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that his country may “apply sanctions” against Israelis.

Macron said that the international community could not continue to be passive as Gaza’s Palestinians struggle to solve their hunger crisis during a visit to Singapore on Friday. The comments underscore the growing international pressure on Israel, which has imposed a three-month blockade of the Palestinian enclave with aid agencies’ warnings of famine.

At a joint press conference with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Macron said, “The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground.”

We will have to “harden our collective position” if there is no action in the upcoming hours and days in accordance with the humanitarian situation, he continued, suggesting that France might consider imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers.

Israel recently stated that it would allow “minimal” supplies of food and medicine into Gaza, where it continues to launch a fierce military assault, under international pressure.

Looting and violence have been accompanied by the trickle of aid entering the strip, which is now under the control of a new NGO supported by Israel and the United States.

Macron urged people to reject the notion that Israel upholds human rights in his remarks.

However, he continued, “I still hope that Israel’s government will change its mind and that we will finally receive a humanitarian response.”

The French leader added that establishment of a Palestinian state would have to be conditioned on a number of factors, including the fact that it was “not only a moral duty, but also a political necessity.”

His remarks came after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Israeli President Subianto publicly denounced any Israeli plans to annex Gaza or expel its population.

Paris is attempting to spread the idea of a conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood, which would, among other things, necessitate Hamas’ demilitarization.

Prior to a UN conference that France and Saudi Arabia are hosting between June 17 and 20, French officials are considering whether to lay out the conditions for a Palestinian state while protecting Israel’s security.

Some diplomats and experts contend that this would irritate Israel and cause deeper divisions in the West.

imminent starvation

The humanitarian crisis persists despite the Israeli blockade, which has allowed some aid to flow into Gaza. One in five people is reportedly facing starvation, according to experts.

On Thursday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private initiative with the support of the US and Israel, expanded its relief efforts. However, the organization’s efforts have been widely denounced by the UN and other organizations as being insufficient, poorly managed, and not upholding humanitarian standards.

As a result of the overwhelming hunger of the population and the overreach of security forces at distribution points, GHF centers have turned into places of chaos, violence, and desperation.

As they attempted to reach a GHF-established aid distribution point, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza reported on Friday that several people were hurt by Israeli army gunfire in the city’s center.

If permitted access, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, announced on Friday that it was prepared to deliver supplies from its Amman warehouses, which are only a few hours’ drive from Gaza, including food parcels, hygiene kits, and medical supplies.

The US has proposed a new plan, and negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian-armed group Hamas are ongoing.

Hamas claims that the proposal is “still being discussed,” but in its current form it would only lead to “the continuation of killing and famine” in Gaza.

Source: Aljazeera