French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Tuesday that Israel cannot halt the recognition of a Palestinian state by annexing more Palestinian territory or by extending its offensive in Gaza.
Several nations, including France, want to recognize the state of Palestine at the next United Nations General Assembly in New York. Belgium is the most recent Western country to declare it will do the same.
“No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement of populations will derail the momentum” towards the so-called two-state solution, Macron said on X after speaking with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The French head of state also lambasted the US decision to deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority to attend the meeting in New York as “unacceptable”, a decision also criticised by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement,” Macron added.
His intervention comes as Israel steps up operations in its war with Hamas in Gaza, despite mounting pressure over the devastating humanitarian consequences for the coastal territory’s besieged Palestinian civilians.
