Latest news with #Israel-Palestinian
Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Times
France may toughen stance on Israel if it continues blocking Gaza aid, Macron says
[SINGAPORE] France could harden its position on Israel if it continues to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday(May 30), reiterating that Paris was committed to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 'The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground,' Macron said at a joint press conference in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 'And so, if there is no response that meets the humanitarian situation in the coming hours and days, obviously, we will have to toughen our collective position,' Macron said, adding that France may consider applying sanctions against Israeli settlers. 'But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response'. Under growing international pressure, Israel partially ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza last week, allowing a limited amount of relief to be delivered under a system that has been heavily criticised. Israel's foreign ministry said the assertion that there was a humanitarian blockade of Gaza was 'a blatant lie'. It said nearly 900 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip since the blockade was eased and the new U.S.-backed system had distributed 2 million meals and thousands of aid packages. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state,' the ministry said in a statement. Macron said Paris is committed to working towards a political solution and reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The existence of a Palestinian state 'is not just simply a moral duty but also a political necessity,' Macron told reporters in Singapore, in comments broadcast on French TV. Macron is leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state, diplomats and experts say, a move that could infuriate Israel and deepen Western splits. French officials are weighing up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting in June, to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The war since then has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities say. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
France may toughen stance on Israel if it continues blocking Gaza aid, Macron says
France's President Emmanuel Macron also said Paris is committed to working towards a political solution. PHOTO: AFP France may toughen stance on Israel if it continues blocking Gaza aid, Macron says SINGAPORE - France could harden its position on Israel if it continues to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron said on May 30, reiterating that Paris was committed to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 'The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground,' Mr Macron said at a joint press conference in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 'And so, if there is no response that meets the humanitarian situation in the coming hours and days, obviously, we will have to toughen our collective position,' Mr Macron said, adding that France may consider applying sanctions against Israeli settlers. 'But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response'. Under growing international pressure, Israel partially ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza last week, allowing a limited amount of relief to be delivered under a system that has been heavily criticised. Israel's foreign ministry said the assertion that there was a humanitarian blockade of Gaza was 'a blatant lie'. It said nearly 900 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip since the blockade was eased and the new US-backed system had distributed 2 million meals and thousands of aid packages. 'But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state,' the ministry said in a statement. Mr Macron said Paris is committed to working towards a political solution and reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The existence of a Palestinian state 'is not just simply a moral duty but also a political necessity', Mr Macron told reporters in Singapore, in comments broadcast on French TV. Mr Macron is leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state, diplomats and experts say, a move that could infuriate Israel and deepen Western splits. French officials are weighing up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting in June, to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The war since then has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities say. REUTERS Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
France 24
3 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Israel is 'sprinting to annex Palestinian territories': Anger over new West Bank settlements
Israel has announced that it's expanding its settlements in the West Bank, in one of its biggest such moves in decades. The American TV channel CBS News says that the announcement has sparked global criticism. The article reminds us that the majority of the international community views settlements as illegal and as the main obstacle to resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. French left-wing paper Libération says that Israel is "sprinting to annex Palestinian territories". The paper writes that the new plan wants to "dismember" what's left of Palestine. The UK has also condemned the move, the British daily The Independent says. It cites Britain's Middle East minister Hamish Falconer, who wrote on X that the 22 new settlements are a "deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood" and that they "further imperil the two-state solution". An opinion piece in Israeli left-wing paper Haaretz writes about the West Bank's "bulletproof vest theory, calling it "not only wrong, but dangerous". The theory encapsulates the idea that settlements serve as a barrier against terror attacks. The opinion piece says that this shifts the blame from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. The paper dives deep into past examples of why the theory didn't work and concludes that "[today,] the goal of the settlement enterprise isn't security but to create pretexts for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians". We turn next to the Netherlands, where an uncommon ingredient has been found in sweets. The Dutch paper De Volkskrant reports that cannabis has been found in bags of Haribo cola candy. Several people, including children, felt dizzy and had health complaints after eating the sweets. Some 8,000 kilograms have been recalled. The British daily The Guardian adds that drug smugglers are increasingly using children's candy as a cover-up. They sometimes inject THC into the candy and make THC copies of popular brands that can be found online. Finally, researchers have found a new way to track mental workload. The Guardian reports on a new device called an e-tattoo that can be attached to a person's head. It's a "real-time mental workload decoder" that can warn people they need a rest before it's too late. The e-tattoo is lightweight and wireless, the paper explains. It is made from a thin conductive material and electrodes that detect stress. Researchers say it could be very useful for pilots and healthcare workers, for instance, where it's crucial to prevent fatal incidents caused by extreme fatigue or stress.
Leaders
3 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
France May Toughen Stance on Israel Over Gaza Aid Blockage
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that France could harden its stance on Israel if it continues blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. During a press conference in Singapore, Macron emphasized that Paris remains committed to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He stated, 'The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground.' Macron expressed urgency, saying, 'If there is no response that meets the humanitarian situation in the coming hours and days, we will have to toughen our collective position.' He also mentioned that France might consider applying sanctions against Israeli settlers. However, he expressed hope that the Israeli government would change its stance and provide a humanitarian response. International Pressure on Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government faces increasing international pressure regarding the ongoing war in Gaza. This conflict represents the deadliest fighting in decades between Israel and the Palestinians. Macron's visit to Singapore coincides with his participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum, running from 30 May to 1 June. Deep divisions between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel have hindered previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that collapsed in March. Under growing international pressure, Israel partially lifted an 11-week-long aid blockade on Gaza ten days ago. This limited relief allows aid to be delivered through two channels: the United Nations and the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Commitment to a Two-State Solution Macron reiterated France's commitment to working towards a political solution and supporting a two-state resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Reports indicate that Macron is leaning towards recognizing a Palestinian state, a move that could infuriate Israel and deepen divisions among Western nations. French officials are considering this recognition ahead of a United Nations conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia from 17 to 20 June. This conference aims to outline the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state while ensuring Israel's security. Israel initiated its military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas attack on 7 October, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken into Gaza, according to Israeli sources. Since then, the conflict has reportedly killed around 54,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza. Urgent Need for Humanitarian Aid The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with many civilians suffering from the effects of the ongoing conflict. Macron's statements reflect a growing concern among European leaders regarding the humanitarian crisis. He emphasized that the international community cannot allow this situation to persist without taking action. As the humanitarian crisis escalates, Macron's call for a tougher stance on Israel highlights the urgent need for a resolution that addresses both humanitarian needs and long-term political solutions. Short link : Post Views: 5
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
France may toughen stance on Israel if it continues blocking Gaza aid, Macron says
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -France could harden its position on Israel if it continues to block humanitarian aid to Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, reiterating that Paris was committed to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict. "The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground," Macron said at a joint press conference in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. "And so, if there is no response that meets the humanitarian situation in the coming hours and days, obviously, we will have to toughen our collective position," Macron said, adding that France may consider applying sanctions against Israeli settlers. "But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has hit back at growing international pressure over the war in Gaza, the deadliest fighting in decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Macron was in Singapore on a state visit and he will also deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum, which runs this year from May 30-June 1. Deep differences between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Under growing international pressure, Israel partially ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues - the United Nations or the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The French president said Paris is committed to working towards a political solution and reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Macron is leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state, diplomats and experts say, a move that could infuriate Israel and deepen Western splits. French officials are weighing up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting between June 17-20, to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The war since then has killed around 54,000 Palestinians, Palestinian health authorities say, more than in any other of the countless rounds of fighting between the two sides.
