Alwaght- In a rare move, two European backers of Israel and Canada used such terms as "egregious" and "horrific" in describing the Israeli war on Gaza in reaction to the unabated crimes against the Palestinians.
The leaders of France, Britain and Canada, who have always supported Israel's attack on Gaza, are now expressing concern over the high civilian death toll in Gaza and the months-long blockade that has led to famine. Some experts have said that while the rhetoric of some European countries against Israel has become significantly harsher than in the past, this does not mean that these countries are going to take tough measures against Tel Aviv.
What did France, England, and Canada say?
In his statement, which was also signed by Britain and Canada, French President Emmanuel Macron described Israel's renewed attack on Gaza after a two-month ceasefire as "wholly disproportionate" and threatened to take "concrete measures" if Benjamin Netanyahu does not stop the attack on Gaza and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. Although the letter was signed by the heads of the three countries, it was the first to be drafted by the French president.
France, Canada and the Britain have become increasingly close and united since US President Donald Trump took office. In fact, Trump has disrupted the global order by imposing extensive tariffs, ignoring the European Union and expressing his desire to make Canada the 51st state of the US, and European countries, including the signatories of the recent letter, along with Canada, feel insecure about the current situation.
Words without actions
Despite signing this letter, the European countries along with Canada do not seem to be taking considerable measures to check the Israeli genocidal war.
In response to the ongoing Gaza war, Britain has suspended trade deal talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador to put pressure on Netanyahu. London has also sanctioned three West Bank settlers, two illegal settler bases and two organizations that “support violence against Palestinian society,” but according to Bronon Maddox, director of the London-based Chatham House, the limited sanctions announced by the British officials will have very little impact on Israeli behavior and are “clearly at the lowest possible level.” At the same time, Canada and France have not announced any specific practical measures, stopping at the verbal statement.
In fact, the leaders of the three countries, faced with pressure from their domestic public opinion, are forced to verbally condemn Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, but they have not labeled any of Israel’s actions as genocide. David Rigollet-Rose, a researcher at the French Institute for Strategic Analysis, told the Washington Post that while the French government has condemned Israel, it is not willing to take practical action to stop the Gaza war.
The Financial Times reported that London is considering imposing a travel ban and asset freeze on two far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet. These two are Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, but will this measure really have any effect on stopping the Gaza war? In fact, the sanctions imposed by Britain, such as the suspension of trade negotiations with Israel, are largely symbolic and do not lead anywhere. Even the EU, which has a much larger trade volume with the Israeli regime, continues to maintain its long-standing trade relations with Tel Aviv. Rigollet-Rose believes that verbal statements and some limited measures will not force-change Netanyahu's policy in the Gaza war.
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin believes that the statement by France, Britain and Canada, with strong words and phrases but few practical actions, shows international helplessness in the face of Israel's actions in Gaza. The former French official described the practical measures that would be effective against Tel Aviv as measures such as suspending all trade agreements with Israel, imposing an arms embargo and filing charges against Israel's political and military leaders in the International Criminal Court, adding that so far none of the European and Western leaders have sought these practical measures against Israel and have been content with verbal statements.
"What is needed for European and Western leaders to take practical action? Because war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are clearly being committed in Gaza, but European leaders are not doing anything," he told France Info radio.
France, the verbal supporter of Palestine
Among the three countries that have issued the statement against Gaza war, France has been more open in its positions against Israel. Paris also published another letter signed by 80 other countries condemning war and alling for its end.
Two weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron surprised the international media by announcing his country’s intention to recognize the state of Palestine next June. Macron had previously hinted at the possibility of recognizing the state of Palestine in 2024, but at that time he had called for “patience” and choosing the “right time.” Now, it seems that Macron’s view on recognizing an independent Palestinian state has become more determined.
Indeed, it cannot be forgotten that this is not the first time that Paris has spoken about the possibility of recognizing an independent Palestinian state. In 1982, then French President François Mitterrand spoke about recognizing Palestine in the Israeli Knesset in 1982, and in 2010, France upgraded the Palestinian representation from a delegation to a mission, but these measures have so far failed to bring about a change in the French position on Palestine. In fact, it seems that the Palestinian issue is a political card in France's hands, which it plays at various times. Although Paris has long supported the two-state solution and called for respect for international law and UN resolutions and the establishment of a Palestinian state, it has never had the desire to recognize the Palestinian state in practice.
Palestine place in Paris-Washington's geopolitical competitions
It should be taken into account that foreign and internal political developments have forced the French president to change his "conservative approach" towards Palestine, at least verbally.
Macron has been caught in a big challenge at the parliament, which is divided between the far-right and the far-left. Since start of Gaza war, Palestine case has become a source of extensive conflict between and two sides of the French parliament, undermining the ruling party due to the government's support to Israeli genocide. In such a situation, Macron wants to remove the Palestinian issue out of the parliament and personally pursue it as a president. Therefore, in the current circumstances, the French presidency is upping its statements and moves about Palestine compared to parliament.
From another aspect, France is an economic and military power and a member of the UN Security Council and is in clear competition with the US. Its verbal backing for Palestine and its claims for plans to recognize the state of Palestine are undoubtedly perceived within its competition with the US. In April 2024, Washington vetoed an Algerian draft resolution in the Security Council. The resolution, which recommended that the General Assembly admit Palestine as a member of the UN, was adopted by 12 of the 15 members, including France.
France and the US have also been at loggerheads over issues like EU independence, NATO, the war in Ukraine, and now the Palestinian question—another flashpoint that pits the two Western powers against each other in an ongoing geopolitical competition.
