Joshua Zarka, the Israeli ambassador to Paris, mockingly commented on the global Gaza Flotilla heading to break the siege on Gaza, saying, “I wish the activists good luck to survive.”

He made these remarks on Wednesday during a program on Radio J, a Paris-based station affiliated with the Jewish community.

Zarka claimed that the decision by some European countries to recognize the State of Palestine would contribute to legitimizing Hamas.

He alleged that the global Gaza Flotilla sailing to break the siege is more of a “pleasure trip” than a humanitarian initiative.

Zarka described the politicians participating in the flotilla as “third-rate politicians seeking media exposure,” claiming the initiative has turned into a “media show.”

He referred to the autumn weather conditions in the Mediterranean and the possibility of Israeli forces intervening against the flotilla, saying, “In any case, I wish them good luck to survive.”

Zarka’s statements drew criticism in France, where Thomas Portes, a deputy from the France Insoumise party, which has three members participating in the flotilla, said, “The ambassador of genocide is threatening the flotilla participants.”

Portes called on social media platform X for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in Paris and the closure of the “embassy of the terrorist Israeli government.”

On Sunday, about 20 ships set off as part of the “Flotilla of Steadfastness” from the port of Barcelona, Spain, followed by another convoy early Monday from the port of Genoa in northwestern Italy.

These ships are expected to meet another convoy set to depart from Tunisia next Thursday before continuing their journey toward Gaza in the coming days.

The flotilla consists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Global Gaza Movement, the Steadfastness Convoy, and the Malaysian “Samudra Nusantara” organization.

Israel has besieged Gaza for 18 years, leaving about 1.5 million Palestinians out of approximately 2.4 million in the Gaza Strip homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination.

Since March 2, Israel has closed all crossings leading to Gaza, preventing any humanitarian aid, plunging the sector into famine despite the accumulation of relief trucks at its borders.

However, about a month ago, Israel allowed very limited amounts of aid that do not meet the minimum needs of the starving population, while famine continues as most trucks are looted by gangs protected by Israel, according to a previous statement by the Gaza government’s media office.

With U.S. support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in 63,633 deaths, 160,914 injuries, mostly children and women, thousands missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and famine that killed 367 Palestinians including 131 children.