French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

Paris – French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, in the midst of the world’s anger of snowball in front of hungry people in Gaza.

In a few hours, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “firmly rejects” this decision.

“This reckless decision only serves Hamas’ propaganda and puts peace,” he said on X. “It is a slap in front of the victims of October 7.”

Earlier, Macron declared in an article on X that he would formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and that the civilian population is saved.”

The French president offered support to Israel after the attacks of October 7, 2023 and frequently denounces anti -Semitism, but he has become more and more frustrated by the War of Israel in Gaza, especially in recent months.

“Given its historical commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine,” posted Macron. “Peace is possible.”

He also published a letter he sent to the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas about the decision.

France is the largest and most powerful European country to recognize Palestine. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe.

France has the largest Jewish population in Europe and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, and fights in the Middle East often pour out in demonstrations or other tensions in France.

The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry had no immediate comments.