France has recognised a Palestinian state, joining several Western countries in doing so, ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York.
“We have gathered here because the time has come,” President Emmanuel Macron said at a UN summit convened to revive the long-delayed two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“It falls on us, this responsibility, to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
“Today, I declare that France recognises the state of Palestine,” he said. Envoys from Israel and the United States were missing from the event.
- 4 women rescued as Hisbah busts trafficking syndicate in Kano
- Education Revolution: Gov Yusuf’s Bold Blueprint for a New Generation
Recognition of Palestinian statehood by Australia, Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom on Sunday piled pressure on Israel as it intensifies its war on Gaza, which has killed more than 65,300 Palestinians and turned the enclave to ruins.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) hailed the French move as a “historic and courageous decision”.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the recognition of the State of Palestine by the friendly Republic of France, considering it a historic and courageous decision that is consistent with international law and United Nations resolutions and supports ongoing efforts to achieve peace and implement the two-state solution,” the PA’s Foreign Ministry in Ramallah said in a statement.
Speaking at the conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his support for the two-state solution, framing it as the only viable path towards peace after years of failed negotiations and ongoing violations on the ground.
Statehood for the Palestinians, he said, “is a right, not a reward”.
