French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce his country’s official recognition of the State of Palestine on Monday. However, the opening of a French embassy in Palestinian territories will remain conditional on the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In an interview with the American network “CBS,” Macron stated that “the release of hostages is a clear condition before proceeding with the opening of the embassy.” He explained that this demand is part of a set of conditions that will be presented within the framework of the peace process. He added, “We will announce our recognition of the State of Palestine on the 22nd of this month,” stressing that recognition does not mean responding to the demands of Hamas, which he described as “obsessed with destroying Israel.” However, he emphasized the legitimacy of the aspirations of the Palestinian people, saying, “There are many Palestinians who sincerely seek to establish a state. They are a people who want a nation and a state, and we must not be driven to leave them prey to Hamas.”
The French president renewed his criticism of the military policy pursued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Gaza Strip, considering that attempts to eliminate Hamas achieved “military success by eliminating the movement’s leaders,” but failed strategically. He said, “If we aim to dismantle Hamas, all-out war is not the solution, but rather it weakens Israel’s credibility.”
Macron accused Netanyahu of seeking to “destroy the two-state solution, not just eliminate Hamas.”
France, in coordination with ten other countries, intends to announce its official recognition of the State of Palestine during a forthcoming summit to be held on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
