France recognises Palestine as Macron delivers speech at UN joining Starmer’s move despite Hamas declaring ‘victory’
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron has recognised Palestine during a UN speech matching Sir Keir Starmer’s move just a day later.
Macron has joined a growing number of countries to recognise the state at the just one day after Sir Keir Starmer’s video message.
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France recognized the Palestinian state as it hosted a United Nations world summit in New York on Monday, nearly two years after the war in Gaza began.
The European nation has joined Britain, Canada, Portugal and Australia, who all made the same historic move on Sunday and were rebuked by Israel.
“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,” Macron said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the UN.
“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel,” he said.
His speech drew a lengthy applause from the audience.
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.
The move was described as a “historic and bold move” by the Palestinian foreign ministry, who welcomed the decision.
Despite the event being a potential morale booster for Palestinians in their long fight for sovereignty, the event is not expected to make change on the ground.
Israel – currently ruled by the most far-right government in its history – has declared there will be no Palestinian state as it pushed on with its battle against militant group Hamas in Gaza.
Israel’s current relentless assault on Gaza began after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that left 1200 people dead.
Israel has become increasingly isolated and drawn global condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza.
More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities.
In recent weeks, Israel has begun a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City with few prospects for a ceasefire.
On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK’s decision in a video message to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution”.
The major foreign policy shift has made Britain one of the more than 150 states to recognise Palestine.
Sir Keir said it was “a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future”.
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Following the announcement, senior Hamas figure Mahmoud Mardaw said the recognition of Palestine was a “victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause”.
A United Nations commission determined last week that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The determination has raised the ire of the Israeli government, who fiercely deny the charge.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UK’s decision, saying it was “simply a reward for terrorism”.
He said: “I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre of October 7.
“You are giving a huge reward to terrorism.
“And I have another message for you. It will not happen. There will not be a Palestinian state west of Jordan.”
