Macron’s Gaza plan: Diplomatic theater from a President losing influence

French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for a United Nations–mandated mission to secure and administer Gaza has been met with skepticism from critics who view it as a calculated attempt to regain international relevance rather than a coherent geopolitical strategy.

On Monday, Macron denounced Israel’s plan to expand its military operations in Gaza as “a disaster waiting to happen” and warned of an “unprecedented drift towards a never-ending war.” He urged the U.N. Security Council to establish a stabilization force tasked with protecting civilians and supporting Palestinian governance.

However, detractors argue that Macron’s initiative is less about solving the complex realities of Gaza and more about repairing his damaged political standing. In France, recent polls show him losing credibility with a majority of the public, while his ability to influence European or global affairs has sharply diminished.

“Macron is inaudible in Europe and elsewhere in the world,” said one Paris-based political analyst. “This is about using the war in Gaza as a platform to appear relevant on the international stage.”

Critics also note that Macron’s proposal lacks clarity on operational details, governance structures, and the feasibility of deploying such a mission in a volatile war zone — especially without direct buy-in from key actors on the ground. They accuse him of speaking from afar without genuine understanding of the on-the-ground realities in Gaza or the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The French leader’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state — which triggered similar moves from Britain and Canada — is viewed by some as another symbolic gesture designed to boost his diplomatic profile without delivering tangible change for Palestinians or Israelis.

While Macron insists his Gaza plan is urgent and necessary, his critics see it as diplomatic opportunism — a headline-grabbing move aimed at masking domestic weakness and restoring his fading image as a global statesman.