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French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the international community’s “credibility” was at stake if it failed to act on the situation in the Gaza Strip, describing continued restrictions on humanitarian aid as “shameful.”
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Macron said claims that peace had been achieved in Gaza had not been followed by an increase in humanitarian deliveries, according to the original report.
“Some claim that peace has been achieved, but this has not opened up humanitarian deliveries. The spectacle is shameful. Shame on all of us,” he said.
Macron questions response to Gaza and West Bank
Macron questioned the credibility of states that had recognized Palestine but had not taken action to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“But what is our credibility worth if we remain inactive on Gaza?” he asked.
He also condemned what he described as continuing violations in the occupied West Bank, saying such actions could not be justified by the activities of Hamas, which he said had never been very active there.
The French president said the international community must uphold the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”, including their right to exist, while reiterating France’s commitment to Israel’s security.
At the same time, Macron warned against arguments that Israel’s security required violations of the sovereignty of neighbouring states. He called for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, saying a fully sovereign Lebanon would be necessary to address the presence of Hezbollah and restore security.
“Sovereignty for Lebanon and its people. Sovereignty for Palestinians. Their very basic and most basic rights are once again being violated,” he said.
On Syria, Macron said France would continue supporting the country’s sovereignty and unity. “The revolution should not turn into a disappointment,” he said.
Macron warns of threats to international law
Macron said international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions were facing a serious challenge amid conflicts around the world.
“War crimes have been industrialized. We’ve seen the destruction of civilian infrastructure and human rights violations. It’s a new era of barbaric acts,” he said, adding that the protective framework offered by the Geneva Conventions was being dismantled.
He reaffirmed France’s support for the International Court of Justice and said Paris would continue backing its “central role”. Macron said the international community could not accept “this new order of impunity” that some actors were seeking to establish.
Call for UN and artificial intelligence reforms
The French leader also called for reform of the UN Security Council to make it more effective, saying it should open up to new members and regions.
Macron urged greater international engagement on artificial intelligence, warning against allowing the technology’s future to be determined by only two major powers or a small number of economic actors.
“We must hold fast and not yield on artificial intelligence,” he said.
He added that countries should not accept a situation in which a limited number of powers or companies determine the direction of technological innovation and its consequences.
