French President Emmanuel Macron shared his remarks on television in LCI, offering a cautious assessment of a potential large-scale Israeli move to seize control of the Gaza Strip. Before departing Cairo, he warned that such a confrontation could be a strategic misstep with wide-ranging humanitarian and political consequences. Macron emphasized the danger to civilians and stressed that any operation of that magnitude would carry significant risk to noncombatants and could undermine long-term security in the region.
He added, “If this is a large-scale intervention that would endanger the lives of civilians, I think it is a mistake on Israel’s part because it is unlikely to protect Israel in the long term, and the protection of civilians is incompatible with the principles of international humanitarian law and even the rules that conduct war.” The president urged careful consideration of the human cost and the legal duties that govern armed conflict, underscoring that civilian protection cannot be sidelined by strategic calculations.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont voiced concern about a potential Israeli ground operation in Gaza, warning that such an action could unleash catastrophic consequences for residents. He urged steadiness and a measured approach, highlighting the need for international coordination to minimize harm to civilians while pursuing any legitimate security objectives.
Reports from the New York Times, drawing on senior White House officials, indicated that the Biden administration remained anxious about the readiness and planning of any ground offensive. Officials noted that the Israeli army had not yet prepared a clear, executable plan, which raised questions about timing and strategic objectives at the highest levels of the U.S. government. [Source: NYT report]
Earlier, it was known that there were U.S. consultants involved in urging caution and diplomacy to avoid a full-scale ground operation. The international conversation continued to revolve around preventing escalation, exploring humanitarian corridors, and pursuing diplomacy to deter violence while supporting the civilian population in Gaza. [Attribution: White House officials and public reporting]