French political leaders react after the large-scale attack by Palestinian Hamas on Israel on Saturday morning.
While a truce had been observed since May, thehe armed wing of Palestinian Hamas launched more than 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip on Saturday October 7 in the morning. Find the main political reactions in France.
>> Hamas attack on Israel: follow the evolution of the situation live
Emmanuel Macron expresses his “full solidarity with the victims”
“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks currently hitting Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones”, wrote Emmanuel Macron Saturday morning on X (formerly Twitter). At the beginning of the afternoon, the President of the Republic added: “I spoke with President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu”.
“Strongest condemnation of the terrorist attacks against Israel and its population”reacted for her part on X the Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Terrorism in all its forms must be fought and civilians protected”she concludes.
The President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet calls for “recover as quickly as possible” there “security of civilians” and expresses his “full solidarity with the Israeli people”. The President of the Senate Gérard Larcher addresses him “all its support and firmly condemns these attacks”.
“The international community is too little involved” for Renaissance MP Nathalie Loiseau
“Support for the Israeli people and their right to live in security”writes Renew MEP Nathalie Loiseau on X. “The international community is too little involved”insists the former minister responsible for European Affairs.
“Hamas is playing with its face uncovered”, believes Senator LR Roger Karoutchi
“Hamas is playing with its face open this time”noted on franceinfo on Saturday the senator Les Républicains des Hauts-de-Seine and member of the France-Israel group in the Senate Roger Karoutchi. “There is not much to say other than that it is a totally indiscriminate terrorist attack”adds the senator, “who will fail”. According to Roger Karoutchi, “the terrorist movements had been coordinating for several weeks” with the support of Iran “because it is Iran which finances these organizations”. The country “not accepting the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia” and between Israel and “certain Arab States within the framework of the Abraham Accords, Tehran said ‘we must restore the hard divide, so as to prevent the so-called moderate Arab states from getting closer to Israel’.
>> Rocket fire on Israel: the Jewish state “is considerably weakened” after this “surprise” attack, according to a former correspondent in Jerusalem
As for the reactions of the international community, Roger Karoutchi says “tired of sentences that have no effect”. “We should sit around a table and see what we do with Iran”he adds. “We negotiated, but in reality the West – which is the threatened base – never reacted in an extremely firm manner.” “The sanctions should perhaps be much heavier if Iran continues this support for terrorist movements”he concludes.
“A degree of seriousness never before reached”, according to David Lisnard, the LR mayor of Cannes
HAS right too, reactions are multiplying. “Total support for Israel, France’s duty is to be more strongly alongside the Hebrew State, the only democracy in the Middle East”writes Les Républicains president Eric Ciotti on X.
“The situation in Israel is of an unprecedented degree of seriousness”estimates Mayor Les Républicains de Cannes David Lisnard on X. “The executions of civilians, the taking of hostages, the firing of rockets – more ‘usual’ but of an intensity never before reached – show that a milestone has been reached in horror and bellicose will.”
“We don’t discuss with terrorists”, reacts Julien Odoul, the spokesperson for the RN
At the National Rally, Jordan Bardella launches his “support for Israel and the Israeli people”. “Let us hope this time, for the honor of France, that some people refrain from justifying the worst”insists the party president. “Strength to Israel to protect its people and eradicate this threat”publishes for his part the spokesperson for the National Rally Julien Odoul. “We do not discuss with terrorists, we do not negotiate with barbarians, we do not make peace with child killers”continues the deputy for Yonne.
“Jihad makes fun of peace agreements,” says Éric Zemmour (Reconquest)
“Naivety must stop: jihad mocks peace agreements, it wages war. Let everyone understand this before judging those who defend themselves,” launches Éric Zemmour, president of Reconquête. “France must stand unambiguously alongside Israel”writes Marion Maréchal, the head of the Reconquest list in the European elections.
An “irresponsible” action, judge Stéphane Le Foll, the PS mayor of Le Mans
The socialist mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo brings her “total support” to the mayor of Tel Aviv and “to the Israelis who were attacked last night”. Still on the left, the former Minister of Agriculture and socialist mayor of Le Mans Stéphane Le Foll speaks for his part of a “irresponsible action with a dangerous gear for the region”. An attack that “must be absolutely condemned“, he wrote on X.
“Stop the escalation”, demands the LFI-Nupes parliamentary group
“Israel-Palestine: for a just and lasting peace, stop the escalation!”demands in a press release the LFI-Nupes parliamentary group, relayed by the leader of the rebellious deputies Mathilde Panot on X. “We deplore the Israeli and Palestinian deaths. The current escalation risks leading to a cycle of infernal violence. France, the European Union and the international community must act without delay to prevent this spiral”insists the press release. “Immediately, we must obtain a ceasefire and protection of the populations.”
“Solidarity with the inhabitants of our twin city Ramat Gan and the Israeli population, victims of Hamas terrorist attacks”wrote the environmentalist mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian on the social network “It is urgent to put an end to the escalation of violence which threatens the populations of the region”pleads the elected environmentalist.