France Warns Israel of Sanctions Over Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon Violence
April 25, 2026Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, speaking in a televised interview in France signals a potential shift in Europe’s stance on Israel.
“WE CANNOT ACT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.”
For months, calls for action were blocked.
France is making its position clear:
If policies in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon do not change
Europe cannot continue business as usual.
Sanctions are no longer a distant threat.
They are being discussed as the next step.
And if the veto is lifted, everything changes.
If you think you can sit in your ivory towers and watch a genocide unfold without consequences you are dead wrong.
Courtesy of @franceinfo
#France #Israel #Israellebanon #Lebanon #fyp
English Script:
Journalist: Regarding Israel, the association agreement between the European Union and Israel, a trade agreement, has of course drawn a great deal of criticism in the current context. It is conditional, in particular, on respect for human rights, especially in Gaza. Manuel Bompard of La France Insoumise was our guest on this set on Tuesday. He has a message for you. Listen.
Manuel Bompard: I call on France to request the suspension of the trade agreement between the European Union and Israel.
Unknown: For what specific reason?
Manuel Bompard: Who can say today that the Israeli government respects human rights? No one.
Journalist: Will this agreement be suspended?
Jean-Noël Barro: As you know, France’s position on this is clear. France recognizes Israel’s right to exist and to security. We are firmly committed to it. However, we condemn the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, in the West Bank, and also in Lebanon. And if this policy does not change, we will not be able to act as if nothing has happened. Now, I hear Manuel Bompard and La France Insoumise, whose ultimate objective is the suspension of this association agreement. Our objective is not to suspend for the sake of suspending. Our objective is for things to change and for the Israeli government to change its policy: in Gaza, that it allow access for humanitarian aid; in the West Bank, that it put an end to illegal settlement expansion and the surge in violence by extremist and violent settlers. And I can tell you that for a year I have been advocating for sanctions to be taken against entities or individuals responsible for killings of Palestinians or for arson in the West Bank. These European sanctions have been blocked for a year by a Hungarian veto, a veto that could be lifted, and I believe we will manage to adopt these sanctions in the coming days.
Paul: So we understand that France does not want to suspend this agreement, but you are in favor of sanctioning the settlers.
Jean-Noël Barro: That’s not what I said, Paul.
Then I didn’t understand.
Jean-Noël Barro: What I said is that if the Israeli government does not change its policy, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, we will not be able to act as if nothing has happened. But this is a decision that will be taken at the European level, since, as you know, it is this agreement that must…
Paul: There has to be a limit. We know that Germany and Italy are blocking it. So even if France wanted to, it might not necessarily be able to. But listening to you, one understands that France would want to.
Jean-Noël Barro: The outrage caused by the policies pursued by the Israeli government goes far beyond France and even Europe. And unless the Israeli government draws the consequences, including at the European level, we will not be able to act as if nothing has happened.
