French President Emmanuel Macron launched a sharp public attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday morning, in an interview with France 2 aired a day after the G7 summit in Evian in the French Alps. Macron called Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza “destructive,” said it appears to lack any strategic plan, and described Israel’s actions there as causing heavy civilian harm and being “completely unjustifiable.”
Macron also condemned what he called “new settlements and completely unacceptable actions” in the West Bank, saying they fuel resentment and violence across the region. In a notable remark, he said U.S. President Donald Trump has recently changed his attitude toward Netanyahu. “I think that today, Netanyahu does not seem to have a strategic plan. He has real security results, he protected his country from real aggression,” Macron said, adding, “Trump changed his attitude toward Netanyahu in recent days, and only under those conditions can real change be achieved.”
His comments came amid ongoing tension in Lebanon, after Israel said the previous day it would not rule out strikes against Hezbollah beyond the military control area in southern Lebanon. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot joined the criticism, saying Israel should stop its hostilities in Lebanon and that the United States should pressure Israel.
Macron also addressed the U.S.-Iran understanding reached in the final hours of the G7, rejecting claims that it amounted to Iranian surrender. He said much of Iran’s military capability had been destroyed, but major issues still had to be handled in the next 60 days of talks. Macron said France and Britain are ready to help ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and added that Paris is prepared to take part in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and to assist the Lebanese army in restoring control over Lebanese territory. Israeli and U.S. officials responded online, while Macron’s criticism fit a broader pattern of recent French friction with Israel, including France’s blocking of the Israeli weapons display at Eurosatory.
