Afrasianet - The French magazine Le Monde Diplomatique has revealed many manifestations of the collusion 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 "Perpetrators and Their Accomplices", the French Circular said in its October issue that European leaders cannot pretend that they were not aware of the genocide committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the accompanying destruction, displacement and starvation in which more than 65,000 people were martyred, 170,000 others were injured, and 90% of the buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed.
Le Monde Diplomatique played down recognition of the state of Palestine by some European countries, including France and Britain, and said European officials had done nothing in the face of Israel's massacres in Gaza at a time when they should have prevented genocide there under international law.
The magazine stopped at France's recognition of Palestine, saying it came too late and did not include any threat to impose sanctions on Israel and avoid defining the borders of the Palestinian state that would be recognized.
France's recognition of Palestine came too late and did not include any threat of sanctions against Israel and avoiding the demarcation of the borders of the Palestinian state that would be recognized.
On the ground, the magazine noted that French Interior Minister Bruno Retello ordered provincial governors to take systematic administrative measures against any council members who flew the Palestinian flag on the façade of their municipal building, a few days after President Macron announced the recognition of the State of Palestine.
The magazine criticized Macron and said that he twice allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cross French airspace, 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 have allowed ships carrying arms shipments destined for Israel to dock in their ports.
The governments of France, Italy, Greece, and Belgium allowed ships carrying arms shipments destined for Israel to dock in their ports.
The European Union has not taken the slightest action to respond to Israel's war in Gaza, while it is currently considering adopting a package of 19 sanctions 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 halt its massacres in Gaza, as it is enough to stop arms shipments that make up the bulk of Israel's arsenal, but argues that the Europeans, too, could have acted within their means to confront Israel, but did not.
As Israel's largest trading partner, its second-largest arms supplier, and one of Israelis' favorite tourist destinations, the European Union could suspend visa waivers granted to Israelis, impose individual sanctions on most of their officials, and impose a ban on military equipment.
European leaders could also suspend the EU-Israel Association and Free Trade Agreement in order to activate Article 2, which stipulates that one of the parties violates the principles of human rights and democracy.
European leaders have not colluded with Israel by inaction and idleness, but have provided it with continued material support, as in the case of the Horizon Europe program, where Belgium continues to provide grants to Israeli universities and companies that cooperate with the military.
According to Le Monde Diplomatic, since October 7, 2023, the European Union has approved more than 130 such projects, in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries – one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the country – the Weizmann Institute of Science, which oversees Israel's nuclear weapons program, and Ben-Gurion University, which works in coordination with the Israeli Air Force's Aviation School.
On the political front, Le Monde Diplomatique says that since the beginning of its war on Gaza, Israel has enjoyed near-constant European political support, with European officials quick to identify with the Israeli narrative and described the October 7, 2023 attack as "an act of Islamic and anti-Semitic terrorism."
European leaders have consistently asserted Israel's "right to defend itself," even when it unilaterally and without warning attacked Iran in June 2025.
European officials have maintained friendly relations with their Israeli counterparts, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog receiving a warm welcome over the past two years at the Elysee Palace, and in Hungary, Italy, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and the United Kingdom.
In contrast, Le Monde Diplomatique said that European countries are giving very different treatment to activists defending Palestinians who condemn the genocide in Gaza and demand respect for international law.
Authorities in France, Germany and Italy have banned many peaceful demonstrations, as well as conferences and marches in support of Gaza.
Authorities in France, Germany and Italy have banned many peaceful demonstrations, as well as conferences and marches in support of Gaza, and activists and elected officials accused of justifying the October 7 attacks have been summoned, detained, and tried on charges of "condoning terrorism."
Since October 7, 2023, elected officials and activists of the Father France movement have been accused of anti-Semitism almost daily in right-leaning French media such as the Pollory Group, Le Pen magazine, Le Figaro, and other outlets.