Desk Report:
Finally, the European country France has also recognized Palestine as a state. According to the British media outlet BBC, French President Emmanuel Macron made this announcement at a special conference on Palestine in New York on Monday.
Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra and San Marino have also said they will recognize Palestine as a state, but have not yet made an official announcement.
Earlier, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Portugal officially recognized Palestine as a state last Sunday.
At the conference on Monday, President Macron said, “The time for peace has come. The ongoing war in Gaza cannot be called just in any way.”
At this time, he once again emphasized the two-state solution. Warning about the horrors of war, he said, “Truth should always prevail, not force. We must do whatever is necessary to ensure a two-state solution. Because only through a diplomatic and political solution can Palestine and Israel coexist in peace and security as two states.
The French President also spoke about the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
International pressure on Israel is increasing due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the illegal construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is mainly why this wave of recognition of Palestine as a state has begun.
However, Israel is extremely unhappy with this move by European countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a ‘reward’ for Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. In his opinion, recognizing Palestine as a state means rewarding Hamas for its terrorism.
