French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said Israel cannot stop a push towards the recognition of a Palestinian state through its expanded offensive in Gaza or by annexing more Palestinian territory.
France is one of several countries planning to recognize the state of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, with Belgium becoming the latest Western nation to announce it would follow suit.
“No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement of populations will derail the momentum we have created with the (Saudi) Crown Prince – momentum that many partners have already joined,” Macron said on X after speaking with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.
Macron said that he and Prince Mohammed “will co-chair the Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York on September 22.”
“Our objective is clear: to rally the broadest possible international support for the Two-State Solution – the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians,” the French leader said.
“This will require the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and the deployment of a stabilization mission in Gaza,” he added.
“We are also working to ensure that, the day after, Hamas is disarmed and excluded from any governance of Gaza, that the Palestinian Authority is reformed and strengthened, and that the Gaza Strip is fully reconstructed.”
Macron also said that the United States’ decision not to grant visas to Palestinian officials for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly was “unacceptable” and should be reversed.
“We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement,” Macron said.
“See you in New York on September 22. Together, let us make this Conference on the Two-State Solution a decisive turning point for peace and security for all in the region.”
