Macron to Netanyahu: We Stand with Israel Against the Threats of the Islamic Republic

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, on Monday, April 22, emphasized France's efforts to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East and to stand against the destabilizing actions of the Iranian government in the region during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes as Israeli officials continue their diplomatic campaign for further sanctions against the Islamic Republic, particularly targeting its nuclear and missile programs. Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, in an interview with Politico published on Sunday, April 22, stated that European leaders do not understand the threat posed by the 'evil empire' of the Islamic Republic and need to wake up. He warned European leaders that if they do not respond robustly to the threat of the Islamic Republic, they will pay the price in the future, citing Russia's use of thousands of Iranian drones in its attack on Ukraine and the advancement of Iran's nuclear program. Concurrently, the Israeli Foreign Minister called on the foreign ministers of the European Union to impose sanctions on Iran's missile program. According to Macron's office, the French President also emphasized during his call with Netanyahu that Paris seeks an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and is working to reduce tensions arising from conflicts along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah first attacked a border area in northern Israel on October 8 last year, a day after Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, calling the attack an act of 'solidarity' with Hamas. The Houthi militia in Yemen also began attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden under the pretext of supporting the people of Gaza and Hamas forces following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and groups known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria are among the proxy groups of the Islamic Republic in the region that have targeted the interests of Israel, the United States, and their allies in the Middle East with the support of the Islamic Republic in recent months. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic and returning the hostages. During negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt last fall, over 100 kidnapped hostages were released. There are still 133 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and Israel believes at least 20 of them have died. Hamas officials have repeatedly stated since the October 7 terrorist attack that if able, they would carry out such an attack again. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. The head of Israeli military intelligence resigned due to the failure to prevent the October 7 attack. Israeli media report Netanyahu's dissatisfaction with the hostage negotiation team. Israel has called for Europe to 'wake up' to the 'evil empire' of the Islamic Republic. Netanyahu stated, 'We will deal painful and greater blows to Hamas.'