Speaking during a visit on Monday to Palestinian villages in the West Bank alongside former senior Israeli officials including Matan Vilnai and Amram Mitzna, Pardo said the conditions he witnessed reminded him of historic persecution faced by Jews in Europe and left him feeling “ashamed to be Jewish,” according to remarks carried by Israel’s Channel 13.

Pardo said Israeli authorities were fully aware of settler attacks on Palestinian residents but had chosen not to intervene, describing the trend as a moral and strategic danger for the country.

He warned that confronting radical settlers, some of whom he said were armed and enjoyed political backing, could trigger internal instability and deepen divisions inside Israel.Pardo specifically pointed to the influence of far-right cabinet ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have supported stronger Israeli control over the West Bank and expansion of settlements.

Violence across the occupied territory has intensified in recent months, with Palestinian communities reporting repeated attacks, destruction of homes and farmland, and forced displacement.The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and has repeatedly called for a halt to settlement expansion, a position Israel disputes.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said annexation of parts of the West Bank was not currently being pursued, citing opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump.However, Saar said Israel remained opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and would continue to strengthen its presence in the territory, a position that has further strained relations with the European Union and drawn criticism from rights groups and international partners.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, remains one of the central flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with rising tensions fueling fears of broader regional instability.

Macron’s remarks, delivered during a state visit to Singapore, called on European nations to reconsider their diplomatic posture toward Israel, warning that the continuation of the status quo in Gaza was morally and politically untenable.

“If the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Europe must adopt a hardened stance,” Macron said, adding that such a stance would involve “dropping the assumption that human rights are being respected, and applying sanctions.”

He further declared that recognizing a Palestinian state under conditions was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity,” signaling a shift in France’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a swift and scathing response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing Macron’s position. “There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie,” the statement said, defending Israeli efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state,” the ministry added. “No doubt its national day will be October 7,” referencing the date of Hamas’ surprise attacks in southern Israel in 2023.

The Israeli government’s unusually sharp rhetoric underscores growing diplomatic friction between Tel Aviv and European capitals, particularly as calls intensify for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian access in Gaza.

Macron’s stance aligns with a broader European sentiment that the prolonged conflict and civilian toll in Gaza require a recalibration of the West’s policies toward Israel. While France has traditionally maintained strong ties with both Israel and the Arab world, the war in Gaza appears to be testing those diplomatic balances.

France has not formally recognized a Palestinian state but has indicated it may do so unilaterally if peace prospects remain blocked — a move Israel sees as undermining negotiations and rewarding extremist factions.

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens and global outrage mounts, Macron’s call may signal a turning point in European diplomacy — and a potential diplomatic rift with Israel.