France to Officially Recognize Palestinian State Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict

France's Commitment to Palestinian Statehood

On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognize the state of Palestine. This decision aligns with France's longstanding commitment to achieving a fair and lasting peace in the West Asia region.

Macron indicated that the formal declaration will take place prior to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. He emphasized the urgent need to halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza and provide humanitarian relief to affected civilians.

As of March, 147 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognized Palestine as a sovereign entity. Since 2012, Palestine has held the status of a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly.

With this move, France will be the first nation among the Group of Seven to acknowledge Palestine officially.

During his address, Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the besieged region. He stated, “We must also ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza,” and added that establishing a viable Palestinian state is crucial for regional security.

He concluded by asserting, “There is no alternative.”

In response to Macron's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the recognition, claiming it rewards terrorism and could lead to the creation of another Iranian proxy similar to the situation in Gaza.

The United States, a key ally of Israel, expressed strong disapproval of Macron's decision. US Secretary Marco Rubio described the move as reckless, stating it only serves to bolster Hamas's propaganda and undermines peace efforts. He remarked, “It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Israel's military operations in Gaza commenced in October 2023 following an incursion by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and numerous hostages taken. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground assaults on Gaza, leading to over 61,000 fatalities.

Additionally, Israel has imposed a strict blockade on humanitarian aid, pushing the population to the brink of famine, according to UN officials.

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, although previous attempts to restore a temporary ceasefire that was in place in January have faltered due to significant disagreements between the parties.