France Recognises Palestinian State, Macron Says "Time For Peace Has Come"

France Recognizes Palestinian State, Macron Declares "Time For Peace Has Come"

"The time has come to stop the war", Macron declared at the UN summit.

New York:

French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognized a Palestinian state on Monday, leading a United Nations summit that has already inspired several Western governments to take this significant step, much to Israel's displeasure.

"The time for peace has come, as we stand at the precipice of losing our opportunity to seize it," Macron stated during the summit.

"The time has come to release the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to end the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the forced displacement," Macron emphasized.

Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal also joined in this largely symbolic recognition ahead of the summit convened by France and Saudi Arabia, increasing pressure on Israel as it intensifies its retaliatory campaign in Gaza that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Macron had previously indicated that he would make the release of hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel a prerequisite for establishing a French embassy to the Palestinian state.

Israel has consistently cautioned France against recognizing a Palestinian state, with far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government considering annexation of the West Bank to prevent any possibility of Palestinian statehood.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, issued a warning: "We will take action."

"It's easier to come here and deliver speeches, take photographs, feel as though they are making a difference. But they are not advancing peace. They are supporting terrorism," he told reporters.

The United States, Israel's crucial diplomatic and military ally, had unsuccessfully urged its partners to abandon their recognition plans, with President Trump asserting that statehood can only emerge through negotiations.

"Frankly, he views it as a reward to Hamas," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said regarding Palestinian state recognition.

"He believes these decisions amount to more talk and insufficient action from some of our friends and allies," she informed reporters in Washington.

Germany, while more critical than Washington of Israel's actions in Gaza, broke ranks with France and Britain and declined to recognize a Palestinian state.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that "a negotiated two-state solution is the path that can enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity."

- Top of UN agenda -

More than 140 world leaders will gather in New York, but Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will be absent, having been denied a visa by US authorities, forcing him to participate virtually.

Israel announced it would not attend an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Gaza scheduled for Tuesday, citing the Jewish New Year and calling the timing "regrettable."

Netanyahu reaffirmed Sunday his position against a Palestinian state and pledged to accelerate settlement expansion.

Two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, went further by advocating for West Bank annexation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP Friday "we should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation."

- 'Erasure of Palestinian life' -

Macron expressed frustration with Israel's extended offensive as he decided to recognize a Palestinian state.

Britain, which more than a century ago declared support for a Jewish homeland, suggested it might reconsider its recognition of a Palestinian state if Israel agreed to a Gaza ceasefire.

However, this historic step likely will have minimal practical impact on the ground.

"Unless backed up by concrete measures, recognizing Palestine as a state risks becoming a distraction from the reality, which is an accelerating erasure of Palestinian life in their homeland," said the International Crisis Group's Israel-Palestine project director, Max Rodenbeck.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel resulted in 1,219 Israeli deaths, primarily civilians, according to official figures.

Israeli military operations since then have killed 65,062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.