French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, calling the current situation “intolerable” during his visit to Egypt on Tuesday. Speaking from El-Arish, a city near the Rafah border crossing, Macron also condemned a recent Israeli attack that killed aid workers, intensifying calls for increased international pressure on Israel.
“The situation today is intolerable,” Macron said, calling for “the resumption of humanitarian aid as quickly as possible.”
Macron Visits Wounded Palestinians in Egypt
During his trip, Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi visited a hospital in El-Arish, about 50 kilometers from Gaza. The hospital has been a key treatment center for Palestinians injured in the ongoing war that began in October 2023. Macron met with medical staff and wounded patients, including children, and handed out red roses during his tour.
His office stated that the visit aimed to press Israel to reopen border crossings and allow the safe flow of humanitarian goods into the besieged territory.
Israel’s Aid Blockade Amid Escalating Conflict
Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza in early March following stalled ceasefire talks with Hamas. Later that month, the Israeli military intensified airstrikes and resumed ground operations across the enclave.
As a result, humanitarian access has been severely limited. Large quantities of essential supplies—food, fuel, medicine, and shelter equipment—have been stuck outside Gaza’s borders for weeks.
A joint statement released Monday by multiple UN agencies said many Gazans are “trapped, bombed, and starved again,” highlighting that critical aid remains undelivered due to blocked crossings.
1,200 Treated Since War Began
Dr. Mahmud Mohammad Elshaer, an emergency physician at the El-Arish hospital, reported that around 1,200 Palestinian patients have been treated there since the start of the war.
“Some days we can receive 100 patients, others 50,” Elshaer said, noting that many arrive with serious injuries such as amputations and head trauma.
Macron’s visit also included meetings with displaced Palestinians and a stop at a playroom designed for children impacted by the conflict.
Joint Ceasefire Appeal with Egypt and Jordan
In Cairo on Monday, Macron joined President Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II for a trilateral summit focused on humanitarian relief and de-escalation.
All three leaders issued a unified appeal for an “immediate return” to the ceasefire agreement, stressing the need to protect Gaza’s 2.4 million residents—most of whom have been displaced at least once during the conflict.
Israeli Court Hears Controversial Intelligence Chief Dismissal
On the same day Macron toured the region, Israel’s Supreme Court began hearing a case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s move to dismiss Shin Bet (domestic intelligence) head Ronen Bar. The hearing was marked by protests from bereaved families and political activists.
Tensions inside the courtroom erupted when a protester, whose son died in Gaza in December, shouted accusations at Bar and had to be removed by security. Judges eventually called a recess and cleared the courtroom.
Outside, demonstrators—including a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party—chanted slogans like “For shame!”
Netanyahu Faces Backlash Over Intelligence Dismissal
Last month, Netanyahu announced he had lost trust in Bar following Shin Bet’s failure to anticipate the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. However, critics claim the dismissal was politically motivated.
A joint investigation launched by the Israeli police and Shin Bet into potential connections between Netanyahu’s aides and Qatari officials raised concerns about conflict of interest.
Watchdogs and opposition figures petitioned the Supreme Court, calling the dismissal unlawful and rushed. The controversy has deepened existing tensions between Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition and key defense and judicial institutions.
Since taking office, Netanyahu has clashed with Israel’s judiciary over his government’s attempt to reduce the power of the Supreme Court and has been under increasing pressure regarding his handling of the war in Gaza.
Growing Global Pressure for Gaza Aid Access
The international community continues to call for safe and open humanitarian corridors into Gaza. Macron’s visit and condemnation of the Israeli airstrike on aid workers add to the chorus of global leaders demanding immediate relief for Gaza’s civilians.
As of now, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Aid groups warn that the humanitarian crisis could worsen without swift action.
President Macron’s trip to Egypt and his strong statements against Israel’s aid blockade signal a renewed European push for humanitarian access and ceasefire talks. With regional leaders uniting and global scrutiny intensifying, the pressure is mounting on Israel to reopen border crossings and allow life-saving aid into Gaza.
