French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot dismissed as “absurd and slanderous” Israel’s claim that European countries are fueling antisemitism by criticising its actions in Gaza.

“Accusing of encouraging anti-Semitism or [supporting] Hamas whoever defends the two-state solution is absurd and slanderous”, Barrot wrote on X, reaffirming that France remains “indefectibly attached to the security of Israel”.

He also emphasised that France supports Hamas being “disarmed and permanently excluded from the political future of Gaza”.

The backlash follows remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who accused European governments of inciting anti-Semitic violence in the wake of two Israeli embassy staffers being killed on Wednesday in Washington.