France’s foreign minister says no immediate plans to impose sanctions on Israel over Gaza crisis

File: French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne speaks during a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw, on January 15, 2024. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP)
File: French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne speaks during a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw, on January 15, 2024. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP)

France’s foreign minister says there is no immediate plan to impose sanctions on Israel to force it to allow more humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, toning down his stance after tougher remarks made earlier this week.

“There is no plan at this stage for general sanctions against Israel,” Stephane Sejourne tells lawmakers in the National Assembly.

France recently imposed sanctions against some individuals who it says are linked to excessive violence by settlers in the West Bank, and it will “continue to do so,” he says.

His comments came a day after the minister in an interview said sanctions could be an option to exert pressure on Israel’s government, earning both praise and outrage as Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza divides public opinion in France, home to both large Muslim and Jewish minorities.

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