French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that France was “determined” to recognize a Palestinian State, according to France 24.
Barrot also condemned Israel’s “indefensible” situation in Gaza caused by its heavy airstrikes and blockade of humanitarian aid.
Recognizing Palestinian State
“We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of violence and hatred. So, all this must stop, and that’s why we are determined to recognize a Palestinian state,” Barrot told France Inter radio.
In this regard, he also emphasized that Paris supported a Netherlands-led initiative for a review of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Israel.
“And I am actively working towards this, because we want to contribute to a political solution in the interest of the Palestinians but also for the security of Israel,” he added.
Joint Statement
Barrot’s statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a rare joint statement that made Israel very angry.
The participating states said that they would not stand by, “further concrete actions” if Israel continued to block aid. Furthermore, they stressed their commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state.
Macron Accuses Israel of Shameful Actions
Macron also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing “shameful and disgraceful,” actions in Gaza.
In a special television appearance broadcast on the TF1 channel, Macron noted that it is not for Netanyahu to decide whether this constitutes genocide, but rather for historians.
“What Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is doing today in Gaza is unacceptable. It is shameful and disgraceful,” Macron said.
During the interview, Macron stated that he was “one of the few leaders who visited the Egypt-Gaza border.”
He also described the situation as “one of the most distressing sights I’ve ever witnessed.”
Condemning Blockade of Humanitarian Aid
Macron criticized Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid causing the suffering of thousands in Gaza.
“There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in,” Macron added.
“We need the United States. President [Donald] Trump has the levers. I have had tough words with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I got angry, but they [Israel] don’t depend on us, they depend on American weapons,” he added.
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed at least 53,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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