The French magazine Le Monde Diplomatique revealed many aspects of the complicity of several European countries with Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, by directly supporting it militarily, politically, and in the media.
In an editorial titled "The Perpetrators and Their Partners," the French magazine stated in its October issue that European leaders cannot pretend they were unaware of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, which was accompanied by destruction, displacement, and starvation, resulting in the deaths of more than 65,000 people and injuries to 170,000 others, with 90% of the buildings in the strip destroyed.
Le Monde Diplomatique downplayed the significance of some European countries, including France and Britain, recognizing the State of Palestine, stating that European officials did nothing in the face of the massacres committed by Israel in Gaza when they were legally obligated to prevent genocide there.
The magazine noted that France's recognition of Palestine came very late and did not include any threat of imposing sanctions on Israel, avoiding the specification of the borders of the Palestinian state to be recognized.
In reality, the magazine observed that French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau ordered provincial governors to take systematic administrative measures against any council members who raise the Palestinian flag on the facade of their municipal building, just a few days after President Macron announced the recognition of the State of Palestine.
The magazine criticized President Macron, stating that he allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cross French airspace twice—in February and April 2025—despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Instead of working to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the magazine pointed out that the governments of France, Italy, Greece, and Belgium allowed ships carrying arms shipments directed to Israel to dock in their ports.
The French magazine indicated that the European Union has not taken any action in response to Israel's war in Gaza, while it is currently considering adopting the 19th sanctions package against Russia—just two months after the 18th package—to punish it for its invasion of Ukraine.
The magazine acknowledges that only America can force Israel to immediately stop its massacres in Gaza, as it only needs to halt arms shipments that make up the bulk of Israel's arsenal, but it believes that Europeans could have acted within their means to confront Israel, yet they did not.
In this regard, it pointed out that the European Union, as Israel's largest trading partner, its second-largest arms supplier, and one of the favorite tourist destinations for Israelis, could have suspended visa exemptions granted to Israelis, imposed individual sanctions on most of their officials, and enforced a ban on military equipment.
The European leaders, the magazine adds, could have suspended the partnership and free trade agreement between the EU and Israel, activating the second article that stipulates this in case one party violates principles of human rights and democracy.
According to Le Monde Diplomatique, since October 7, 2023, the EU has approved more than 130 such projects, in cooperation with the Israeli aerospace industries company—one of the largest arms manufacturers in the country—and the Weizmann Institute of Science overseeing the Israeli nuclear weapons program, and Ben-Gurion University, which coordinates with the Israeli Air Force flight school.
Politically, Le Monde Diplomatique states that Israel has received almost constant European political support since the beginning of its war on Gaza, as European officials rushed to align with the Israeli narrative, describing the October 7, 2023 attack as an "Islamic terrorist act and anti-Semitic."
European leaders, as the magazine points out, have consistently affirmed "Israel's right to defend itself," even when Iran attacked unilaterally and without prior warning in June 2025.
The French magazine noted that European officials maintained friendly relations with their Israeli counterparts, as Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been warmly received over the past two years at the Élysée Palace, in Hungary, Italy, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the United Kingdom.
In contrast, Le Monde Diplomatique stated that European countries treat activists defending Palestinians who condemn the genocide in Gaza and demand respect for international law very differently.
It mentioned that authorities in France, Germany, and Italy prevented many peaceful demonstrations, as well as conferences and marches supporting Gaza, and summoned elected activists and officials accused of justifying the October 7 attacks, detaining and prosecuting them on charges of "tolerating terrorism."
Moreover, defenders of Palestine are subjected to defamation in Europe; since October 7, 2023, elected officials and activists from the "France Insoumise" movement have been accused of anti-Semitism almost daily in right
شارك برأيك
Le Monde Diplomatique: This is how Europe colluded with Israel in the extermination of Gaza.