France officially recognizes a Palestinian kingdom in September, President Emmanuel Macron said, which will make it the first G7 nation to do so.
In a post on X, Macron said that the formal announcement would be made in a session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He said, “Today’s immediate requirement is for war in Gaza and the civilian population is to be saved. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, and the people of Gaza require mass human assistance,” he wrote.
Palestinian officials welcomed Macron’s decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the move is “Award Terror” after Hamas’s attack in Israel on 7 October 2023.
The United States “strongly rejected” Macron’s announcement, the state secretary Marco Rubio called the decision “careless”.
G7 is a group of major industrial countries, including France, as well as America, UK, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.
In his Thursday post on X, Macron wrote: “The Middle East is true for his historical commitment to a equitable and permanent peace, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine.
“We should also guarantee the demonetisation of Hamas, and Gaza should be safe and reconstructed.
“Finally, we must build the state of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its disintegration and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the safety of all in the Middle East. There is no option.”
Macron also attached a letter to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmood Abbas, confirming his decision.
According to the AFP news agency, in response to Macron’s announcement, Abbas Deputy Hussain Al-Sheikh said, “This situation reflects France’s commitment to international law and self-determination for the rights of Palestinian people and its support for the establishment of our independent state.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu wrote in a post on X: “We strongly condemn the decision of President Macron to recognize a Palestinian kingdom next to Tel Aviv in view of the 7 October massacre.
Netanyahu said, “These situations will have a launch pad to destroy a Palestinian state of Israel – not to live next to it. Let’s clarify: Palestinians did not look for a state with Israel; they look for a state instead of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
Hamas said that France’s decision was “positive step in the right direction” and urged all countries of the world to follow the leadership of France “.
Currently, the state of Palestine is recognized by over 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations.
Some European Union countries including Spain and Ireland are among them.
But the main supporters of Israel, its colleagues including the US and the UK have not recognized the Palestinian state.
In a statement on ThursdayThe UK Prime Minister Sir Kir Stmper said he will organize a “emergency call” with French and German leaders on Friday to discuss “what we can do immediately to stop the murder”.
The statehood is “an unqualified right of the Palestinian people”, Sir Kir said, a ceasefire “placed us on a route to recognize a Palestinian kingdom and a two-state solution”.
Sir Kir’s statement came when he was facing increasing pressure, Including their own MPsTo follow France’s leadership to Britain.
On Friday, most of the MPs of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, who investigate the UK foreign policy, called for the immediate recognition of the Palestinian state, adding this step to take this step “while still a state to recognize”.
A committee report states, “An disqualified authority should not be made conditional.”
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry praised France’s decision, saying, “This confirms the consent of the international community on the self -determination of the Palestinian people and the right to establish an independent state”.
The Israeli army launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and 251 others were taken hostage.
According to the health ministry of the region, at least 59,106 people have been killed in Gaza since then.
Since then, most of Gaza has reduced in debris.
Earlier on Thursday, The United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) said that one of the five children in Gaza city was now malnourished. And every day cases were increasing.
More than 100 international support organizations and human rights groups have also warned of massive starvation in the Gaza strip – pressure for governments to take action.
Israel, which controls the entry of all supply into the Palestinian region, has repeatedly stated that there is no siege, blaming Hamas for any case of malnutrition.
