Israeli ‘annexation’ cannot halt push for Palestinian state recognition: Macron

TLE DESK: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said Israel cannot stop a push towards the recognition of a Palestinian state through its expanded offensive in Gaza or by annexing more Palestinian territory.

France is one of several countries planning to recognise the state of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, with Belgium becoming the latest Western nation to announce it would follow suit.

“No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement of populations will derail the momentum” towards the so-called two-state solution, Macron said on X after speaking with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The French head of state also lambasted the US decision to deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority to attend the meeting in New York as “unacceptable”, a decision also criticised by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement,” Macron added.

His intervention comes as Israel steps up operations in its war with Hamas in Gaza, despite mounting pressure over the devastating humanitarian consequences for the coastal territory’s besieged Palestinian civilians.