On October 7, Hamas attack on Israel also affected France. After this France has tried to handle the situation with 3 balancing acts. It includes security, humanitarian needs, and political issues.
France is a nation that has strong connections with Arab countries. It used these relations especially when the region was more united. This changed in the 2000s under French President Jacques Chirac, who opposed the Iraq invasion in 2003. At the same time, the president started to improve relations with Israel.
And the same trend continued for many years. Today, France is also the biggest supporter of Israel. The main reason behind this support is that 41 French citizens died on October 7th. Many are still held hostage in Gaza. In response to the attack France has taken action against Hamas. For targeting Hamas leaders France is currently working with Italy and Germany at the European Union level.
France was the first big Western country that wanted to stop conflict and fighting in Gaza. Their votes at the United Nation is the clear sign of it. In the Security Council, even though France hasn’t created their own proposal, their ambassador voted for Brazilian and Emirati plans for a ceasefire, even those that the US blocked. Additionally France showed support for Jordanian and Egyptian plans in the General Assembly.
Politically, French leaders have been saying more and more that there needs to be a Palestinian state for any lasting peace. Paris has criticized Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir for suggesting that Gazans should leave and for wanting to rebuild settlements in Gaza and add 1,800 settlement units in East Jerusalem.
At last many humanitarian aid came from the French side. France held the humanitarian aid conference in Gaza on November 9. This nation increased its aid to the area to 100 million Euros for 2023, with 77 million Euros going to UN agencies.
The collaboration of France with Jordan and Qatar to help the needy ones is the smart action. In January France and Qatar joined and sent medicine to hostages held in Gaza. This action was done after some successful talks between Hamas and Israel. Both of these nations also help the injured people with the help of French forces and a big helicopter carrier, the Dixmude.
This is a clear indication that France is interested in international issues and likes to help countries. One reason is that France doesn’t have a lot of direct influence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, so they need to partner with others. Additionally France also knows that its actions are seen worldwide. This nation does not want to seem like it’s part of a “West vs. the Rest” situation.
In order to support Israel after the October 7th attack, France joined many Western countries. It includes the US, UK, Italy, and Germany.
France is also being careful about its action in Yemen.On December 10, the French warship took down Houthi drones. Furthermore, Macron gave a suggestion on January 15 at the European Council meeting. According to him, European countries should work together in areas like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
The real challenge for France in the region is in Lebanon. The United States and France both want to avoid the conflicts between Israel and Hazbollah. So the leaders of these nations are working together to keep a peaceful environment at the Israeli-Lebanese border.
France has close ties with Lebanon and plays a significant role in mediating there. As the UN pen holder for Lebanon, France has 700 peacekeepers on the ground. Following the Beirut explosion, France has been heavily involved in Lebanese politics. Despite reduced U.S. interest, France continues efforts to help elect a new Lebanese president and form a government. France maintains a policy of engaging with Hezbollah’s political wing while working closely with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar.
The increasing tension in Lebanon and other parts of the region make France unclear about the risks. Nowadays France is actively ready for the future outcomes. It may happen that this ongoing negotiation brings a ceasefire in Gaza for a few weeks. It could also create more options for diplomatic talks.
France’s stance since October 7 has been criticized for inconsistency, possibly due to internal political concerns, given France’s large Jewish and Muslim communities. However, it’s a diplomatic strategy to keep communication open with different groups. Time will tell if this approach allows Paris to play a role in ending the current war.
