RSS
Israel Accuses Macron of ‘Crusade Against the Jewish State’ Over Gaza Aid Criticism, Settlement Sanctions Threat
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers the keynote address at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 30, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Edgar Su
Israel has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of waging a “crusade against the Jewish state” after the French leader called on European nations to adopt a tougher stance toward Israel over its handling of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“President Macron’s Crusade Against the Jewish State Continues,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X. “The facts do not interest Macron. There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie.”
President Macron’s Crusade Against the Jewish State Continues.
The facts do not interest Macron.
There is no humanitarian blockade.
That is a blatant lie.
Israel is currently facilitating the entry of aid to Gaza through two parallel efforts.In the first effort, nearly 900 aid… pic.twitter.com/cUr3xthnRK
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 30, 2025
Speaking at a press conference in Singapore on Friday, Macron urged European countries to “harden the collective position” against Israel and warned of possible sanctions against Israeli settlers.
“The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground,” the French leader said alongside Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. “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.”
Israel has strongly denied allegations of causing starvation in Gaza, emphasizing that, prior to its recent blockade, it had consistently delivered substantial humanitarian aid to the enclave throughout the conflict.
In its statement, the ministry explained Israel is currently enabling two key initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid while bypassing Hamas — which Israeli officials have accused of diverting supplies to fund terrorism and profiting off the remainder.
The Israeli government has also argued that international agencies are unfit to manage aid distribution, claiming they allow Hamas to exploit the aid system.
According to the ministry, “nearly 900 aid trucks have already entered Gaza from Israel this week” as part of the first major effort to deliver humanitarian assistance to the war-torn enclave.
“Hundreds of these trucks are still waiting for the UN to collect and distribute them in Gaza,” the statement said.
The second initiative involves the newly launched Gaza Humanitarian Fund, backed by the US and international partners, which “has already distributed two million meals and tens of thousands of aid packages” since beginning operations earlier this week, the ministry said.
As part of this operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inspects the shipments at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. The aid is then distributed at designated centers in southern Gaza, secured by American contractors, while non-governmental organizations handle direct distribution to ensure Hamas does not divert the supplies.
“This direct aid to the population in Gaza — bypassing Hamas — is already changing the situation on the ground and has the potential to seriously harm the terrorists and shorten the war,” the ministry said in its statement.
The ministry also condemned Macron’s proposal for sanctions on Israeli settlers, emphasizing that Israel is “under attack on multiple fronts in an attempt to destroy it.”
“But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state. No doubt its national day will be Oct. 7,” the ministry said, referring to the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
During his two-day state visit to Singapore, Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to a two-state solution while addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue – Asia’s leading defense forum.
“The existence of a Palestinian state is not just simply a moral duty but also a political necessity,” the French leader said.
Macron’s latest call for a Palestinian state came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the West Bank, following the government’s announcement of 22 new settlements in the territory.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land – and it is also a clear message to Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground,” the Israeli official said.
The post Israel Accuses Macron of ‘Crusade Against the Jewish State’ Over Gaza Aid Criticism, Settlement Sanctions Threat first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
RSS
Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
RSS
Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.