Israel on Friday, May 30, accused French President Emmanuel Macron of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state” following his call for European nations to toughen their stance on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Responding to Macron’s remarks, Israel’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement rejecting claims of a humanitarian blockade. “There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie,” the statement read, defending Israel’s efforts to facilitate aid deliveries.

The ministry went further, accusing Macron of siding with Hamas. “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 October 7,” it added, referencing the date of Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel recently eased a blockade that had limited the flow of supplies into Gaza for more than two months. Despite the partial lifting, the region continues to face severe shortages of food and medical supplies, with aid only gradually entering.

Macron, who has become more vocal in his support for the Palestinian cause, said Friday that European countries must “harden the collective position” against Israel if it fails to adequately address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Speaking at a major defence forum in Singapore, he did not rule out the possibility of sanctions.

“If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks, we will kill our credibility,” Macron said.

He further described the recognition of a Palestinian state — under certain conditions — as “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.”

France is currently co-hosting an international conference with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations in New York aimed at reviving the push for a two-state solution, a proposal staunchly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

In its Friday statement, Israel’s foreign ministry noted, “Hamas, for its part, has already praised Macron’s statements. Hamas knows why.”