Mélenchon: We should not expect rewards for supporting Palestine

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, said that supporting the Palestinian cause does not require waiting for any reward, stressing that humans are social beings who cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of others.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the French political party La France Insoumise, said that defending the Palestinian cause does not require waiting for any reward, adding: "We are social beings, and we instinctively feel concerned by the suffering of others."

Mélenchon made the remarks in an interview on the French channel TF1 Info's program "Why a president?", which features political figures ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 2027. He published an excerpt from the interview on his account on X.

"The highest form of altruism"

Mélenchon said many people insist that they do not need a reward to act in a certain way, describing this as "the highest form of altruism." He asked: "Why do I feel concerned by events taking place on the other side of the world? I do not expect any reward for it."

He added that thousands of people defend peoples in other parts of the world on their own initiative, whether by taking part in demonstrations opposed by security forces, enduring the disapproval of those around them or donating money, without expecting anything in return.

The turning point in 2009

Responding to those who ask why his interest in the Palestinian cause has grown at this stage of his life, Mélenchon said the turning point came in 2009 with the Israeli operation in Gaza known as "Cast Lead," when he realized that Palestinians were under siege and that the Strip was described as an "open-air prison."

He explained that commitment without expecting a reward stems from indignation, and that this indignation arises from "the sense of similarity among human beings," citing Aristotle's statement that humans are political animals because they are social animals.

Context of the remarks

Mélenchon made the remarks a day after taking part in a march in Paris amid the broad wave of protests held across France on Saturday, where Palestinian flags featured prominently in several demonstrations. Mélenchon is known for his criticism of Israel's war on Gaza, which he has repeatedly described as "genocide."

The remarks come amid growing warnings that famine could return to the Gaza Strip, after aid shipments were halted for consecutive days and the World Food Programme reduced its food assistance because of a funding shortfall.

Mélenchon: We should not expect rewards for supporting Palestine