French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy by drawing a parallel between Israeli civilians held in Gaza and Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.
He called for releasing “all of them” and stressed that applies to both groups. His remarks received applause from the audience .
Macron made this statement during a press conference in Paris.
He pointed out that freeing both Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees should happen as part of resolving the conflict.
When an attendee asked if his call included Palestinian prisoners, Macron responded affirmatively, saying the appeal covered people held “on both sides”.
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar reacted harshly, describing Macron’s comparison as a “lie and moral distortion.”
He dismissed the symmetry, stressing that Israeli hostages are civilians taken hostage, while Palestinians in Israeli custody include convicted murderers and terror suspects.
He described Macron’s remarks as a false moral equivalence that offends Israeli public sentiment.
Macron’s comments come amid rising diplomatic tension between France and Israel.
Paris has announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, prompting criticism from Israeli officials who argue the move rewards terrorism and undermines security talks.
Supporters of Macron argue his message reflects the ideal that all lives are equal and that both hostages and political detainees merit humane treatment.
Critics counter that equating civilians kidnapped by Hamas with Palestinians held under security detention distorts the nature of the conflict.
The exchange adds to a broader debate on how global leaders address humanitarian concerns without compromising legal distinctions.
It follows earlier statements by Macron, who has described the Gaza crisis as dire and threatened sanctions on Israel unless humanitarian aid access improves.