Far-left candidate in France: "Warships will escort the flotilla to Gaza"

French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon promised in a speech that if elected president, French ships would escort flotillas to Gaza. He accused Israel of genocide and annexation, declared a social emergency, and called for mandatory ecological service for young people.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the far-left leader in France and the candidate polling in second place for the presidency, promised that if elected he would act directly against Israel. In a speech at a special convention of his party 'France Unbowed', Mélenchon said that if necessary, French ships would escort civilian flotillas to Gaza. He accused Israel of 'genocide' and the gradual annexation of the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and the Golan Heights. Mélenchon declared a 'social emergency' in France, called for granting voting rights from age 16, and for implementing mandatory 'ecological service' for young people. The speech was delivered before thousands of supporters and included a moment of silence in memory of a victim of a racist attack.