• Israel accuses Macron of waging a "crusade against the Jewish state."
• Macron calls for European countries to toughen their stance on Israel over Gaza.
• Humanitarian aid entry into Gaza is being defended by Israel amid accusations of a blockade.
• Macron emphasizes the need for recognizing a Palestinian state as a political necessity.
• Israel’s response links Macron's support for Palestine to a historical attack by Hamas.

Israel's Foreign Ministry accused French President Emmanuel Macron of leading a "crusade against the Jewish state" following his recent remarks urging European leaders to take a firmer stance on Israel in light of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Ministry's statement declared, "There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie," asserting that Israel is actively facilitating humanitarian aid into the enclave. It criticized Macron's perspective, suggesting that he aims to reward Hamas with state recognition, pointedly referencing the October 7 date of the deadly Hamas attack in 2023 that initiated the latest conflict, according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and The Jakarta Post.

In his statements, Macron has progressively expressed his support for the Palestinians, asserting it is critical for European nations to "harden the collective position" against Israel if it fails to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He stated that a lack of action would undermine the West’s credibility, emphasizing that abandoning Gaza would equate to giving a "free pass" to Israel. Macron labeled the recognition of a Palestinian state as a "moral duty" and a "political necessity," highlighting the urgency of the situation, according to New York Times and Channel News Asia.

Israel's move to partially lift a long-standing blockade on supplies entering Gaza did little to quell tensions, as reports indicate severe shortages of food and medicine persist. While truckloads of humanitarian assistance are beginning to arrive, the situation remains dire. Macron's proposal for an international conference, co-hosted with Saudi Arabia at the UN, aims to revive discussions on a two-state solution, a concept that faces opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot proposed establishing a "demilitarised" Palestinian state as part of a broader security strategy in the region, which was met with criticism from Israeli officials who argue that Israel's security interests should dictate any decisions regarding Palestine, according to Le Monde, The Jakarta Post, and New York Times.