142 Nations Now Recognize Palestine, France to Join Ranks in September
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state in September during a session of the UN General Assembly in New York. This move makes France the first G7 nation to take this step, setting it apart from key Western allies like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Macron emphasized the urgent need to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population. He called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. "Peace is possible," Macron wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Palestinian officials welcomed Macron's decision, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, saying it reflects France's commitment to international law and support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination.
In contrast, Israeli leaders strongly criticized Macron's announcement. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described it as "a disgrace and a capitulation to terrorism," while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.
Currently, over 140 nations recognize Palestine, including most of the Global South. However, Israel's main supporter, the US, and its allies, including the UK, have not recognized a Palestinian state. The Israeli government argues that recognition of an independent Palestinian state would reward terrorism.
The announcement comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where at least 59,106 people have been killed since the Israeli military launched a campaign in response to Hamas's attack on southern Israel. The UN's Palestinian refugee agency reported that one in five children in Gaza City is now malnourished, and cases are increasing daily. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the "unspeakable and indefensible" humanitarian conditions in Gaza, describing it as a "humanitarian catastrophe".
Source: Lead News Online/BBC News
