France on Monday recognised the state of Palestine at a UN summit in New York nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Western allies such as Britain and Canada who made the same historic move.
“The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it,” Macron told the summit at the UN General Assembly hall.
“The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement,” Macron said.
“We must pave the way for peace,” Macron told a special summit at the UN, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” said Macron.
“France recognises the state of Palestine,” he added to loud applause from the leaders and top officials from more than 140 leaders in attendance.
Macron outlined a framework for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority hails ‘historic and courageous’ decision
Shortly after the announcement, the Palestinian Authority (PA) hailed the recognition as a “historic and courageous decision”.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the recognition of the State of Palestine by the friendly Republic of France, considering it a historic and courageous decision that is consistent with international law and United Nations resolutions and supports ongoing efforts to achieve peace and implement the two-state solution,” the PA’s foreign ministry in Ramallah said in a statement.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said “statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward”.
But while the recognition boosted the morale of Palestinians in their long search for statehood, it was not expected to deliver change on the ground.
The French recogition came a day after Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal also took the largely symbolic step of recognising Palestinian statehood.
Israel has repeatedly warned France against recognising a Palestinian state, with far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government mulling annexation of the West Bank to make any state impossible.
Israel warns it will ‘take action’
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned, “We will take action.”
“It’s easier to come here and give speeches, take pictures, feel like they are doing something. But they are not promoting peace. They are supporting terrorism,” he told reporters.
The US, Israel’s crucial diplomatic and military supporter, had unsuccessfully urged its allies to drop the recognition plans, with President Donald Trump saying that a state can only come through negotiations.
“Frankly, he believes it’s a reward to Hamas,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said of recognizing a Palestinian state.
“So he believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies,” she told reporters in Washington.
Germany, while more critical than Washington of Israel’s actions in Gaza, also broke with France and Britain and will not recognise a Palestinian state.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “a negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity”.
Top of UN agenda
More than 140 world leaders have gathered in New York but not Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was denied a visa by the US authorities, forcing him to attend virtually.
Israel said it would skip an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Gaza Tuesday because of the Jewish New Year, calling the timing “regrettable”.
Netanyahu reiterated Sunday his position that there would be no Palestinian state and vowed to accelerate the creation of new settlements.
Two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, went further, calling for the annexation of the West Bank.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 Israelis, mostly civilians, according to official data.
Israeli military operations since then have killed 65,062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, says the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)