Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized France's response to its recent riots, telling i24NEWS that the country "surrendered to the invasion of radical Islam." He urged the French to "fight back" and not pursue appeasement, saying they should fight extremists "whether you're Christian or Muslim." He warned that otherwise "they will devour you all." Netanyahu also recalled the warning he gave President Macron after October 7, 2023, that failing to eliminate Hamas could bring similar threats to Paris, and he presented Israel as a willing ally for Europe against extremism.

The riots followed widespread protests across France on October 17, 2026, over living costs and school conditions. The unrest escalated into looting, arson, and clashes with police in cities including Paris and Lyon, and more than 2,000 people were arrested. French authorities blamed far-left radicals and opportunistic criminals, not Islamist groups, which sets their account apart from Netanyahu's framing. It is not clear from the clip how he links the unrest to radical Islam, or whether the French government has responded to his remarks. The gap between the two accounts is likely to fuel debate over what really drove the violence.