Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a sharp attack on French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday after the latter's statements regarding the Gaza War.

A statement issued by Netanyahu's office said: “Once again, Macron has chosen to stand with a murderous terrorist organization and echoes its false propaganda, accusing Israel of committing bloody fabrications.”

The statement continued: “Instead of supporting the democratic Western camp that fights terrorist organizations and calls for the release of hostages, Macron once again demands that Israel surrender and reward terrorism. Israel will not stop or surrender.”

The statement emphasized that “Prime Minister Netanyahu is determined to achieve all of Israel's war goals: the release of all our hostages, the military and governmental defeat of Hamas, and ensuring that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel.”

Macron's Statements Stir Controversy

Netanyahu's statement came in response to previous remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who described what Netanyahu’s government is doing in Gaza as “unacceptable and shameful.”

During an interview with the French television station “TF1,” Macron rejected the characterization of what is happening in Gaza as genocide, stating that “it is not the role of the President of the Republic to describe it as genocide, but rather that of historians.”

Macron added that “the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the most serious” since October 7, 2023, noting that Israel has prevented the entry of any aid since March 2, describing the situation as “an unacceptable humanitarian tragedy.”

The French president pointed out that he was “one of the few leaders who went to the border between Egypt and Gaza,” mentioning that what he saw there was “among the worst he has seen.”

Macron also condemned the “blocking of all aid sent by France and other countries to the Israelis,” and indicated that reconsidering “cooperation agreements” between the European Union and Israel was “on the table.”