-Analysis-
PARIS — Israel has authorized the return of limited food aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been deprived of it for 11 weeks. But to avoid any misunderstanding about his intentions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video on Monday addressed to Israeli citizens: He is doing it solely for diplomatic reasons, to maintain international support.
For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here.
If you think this is an exaggeration, here is Netanyahu’s exact quote: “Our best friends in the world, senators whom I know are strong supporters of Israel, told us they could not support us if images of famine were broadcast. We must avoid famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons. Without international support, we will not be able to continue our mission until victory.”
He added: “We are engaged in intense and large-scale fighting in Gaza, and we are advancing. We intend to take control of the entire territory.”
His finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said: “Israel will destroy everything that remains of the Gaza Strip.” It’s hard to be any clearer.
Awkward indulgence
The sole purpose of these statements is to preserve the unity of Israel’s far-right coalition. Itamar Ben Gvir, the Minister of National Security, was opposed to resuming aid and constantly threatens to bring down the coalition. Netanyahu is therefore framing this concession as purely diplomatic, in order to continue the war in Gaza.
This hardline stance from the Israeli government is met with awkward indulgence from its allies. On Monday, a joint statement from 23 Western countries sharply criticized the way aid is being handled. Israel is disregarding international humanitarian rules, bypassing the UN and NGOs, and establishing its own system. Yet the statement amounted to little more than empty words.
A second, more limited statement from France, the UK, and Canada warned, without further detail, that “concrete measures” would be taken if the new military offensive continues. The difference in tone between the two texts reveals the difficulty of taking unified action. Replace Netanyahu with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and sanctions would already be in the works.
Trapped in their contradictions
Is U.S. President Donald Trump the key? That’s partially true. It’s likely that his administration, which did not sign either of Monday’s statements, played a role in the decision to resume limited aid. But that doesn’t excuse the Europeans, in particular, who remain trapped by their own contradictions.
The nature of the Islamist movement Hamas, and the fact that hostages are still being held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, continue to weigh heavily on European decision making — as does the burden of European history in relation to the Jewish people.
None of this matches the scale of a tragedy that words can no longer capture.
Netanyahu plays on that guilt and those hesitations to push his agenda in Gaza and block any two-state political solution. He is now putting pressure on Paris to prevent the potential recognition of a Palestinian state that French President Emmanuel Macron is considering next month.
None of this matches the scale of a tragedy that words can no longer capture. This diplomatic impotence risks leaving a long-lasting mark on the international stage, as Gaza slowly dies.
