Paris: French Greens party leaders on Sunday urged President Emmanuel Macron to immediately deploy French Navy vessels to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and recognize Palestine without waiting until September.

According to Anadolu Agency, in a joint op-ed published in French daily La Tribune, the Greens national secretary Marine Tondelier, parliamentary group leaders Cyrielle Chatelain, Guillaume Gontard, and David Cormand, along with deputy national secretary Aissa Ghalmi, called on Macron to take what they described as a 'historic decision' to help end 'the ongoing genocide' in Gaza.

The leaders emphasized the urgency and severity of the situation, demanding that French Navy ships be sent without delay to deliver essential supplies like food and medicine to Gaza. They warned that Macron's continued inaction would be seen as complicity in the crisis, citing potential mass casualties due to lack of medical care and resources.

The letter highlighted the possibility of Gaza's population being 'decimated' by September if France does not intervene. The party leaders urged Macron to oppose the 'illegal blockade' and to expand on previous naval aid missions, referencing France's deployment of the amphibious helicopter carriers Tonnerre and Dixmude in November 2023 to support Gaza's hospitals.

Criticism was also directed at Paris' recent food airdrop initiative, which the Greens described as insufficient. They argued that the 40 tons of food aid delivered by airdrops was both inefficient and dangerous.

The Greens reiterated their call for France to recognize the State of Palestine immediately, urging Macron to lead a coalition to address the humanitarian crisis. They demanded sanctions against the Israeli government, a halt to arms deliveries, and a suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement.