Israel sends tanks to Dea Al Bala in Gaza, killing at least three people
At least three Palestinians were killed after Israeli tanks were pushed into the southern and eastern regions of Deial Al-Bara, according to Gazamedic.
No Brands – News Value
PARIS/Washington, July 24 (Reuters) – France intends to recognize Palestine at its UN General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan has sparked anger from Israel and the United States.
Announcing the X decision, Macron released a letter sent to Palestinian authorities President Mahmoud Abbas, confirming that he works to promote awareness of Palestinians and persuade other partners to follow suit.
“Trusting to our historic commitment to just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the Palestinian state,” Macron said.
“We will make this strict presentation at the UN General Assembly next September.”
Home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim community, France could become the first major western nation to recognize the Palestinian state, and could promote a movement that was generally ruled by a smaller nation more critical of Israel.
The news sparked rage in Israel and Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the decision of one of Israel’s closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move “rewards the fear and the risk of creating another Iranian proxy.”
In X’s post, he added: “The Palestinian state on these terms will become the launch pad to annihilate Israel.
“Let’s be clear: The Palestinians do not want a nation along with Israel. They want a nation instead of Israel.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the move as “disgrace and surrender to terrorism,” adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of “Palestinian entities that harm our security and put our existence at risk.”
In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was “a strong refusal to recognize the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.”
In a post on X, he said, “This reckless decision serves Hamas propaganda and retreates peace. It is a slap in the face of the victim on October 7th.”
Previously, Canada urged Israel to seek peace, and Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated his support for a solution in the two provinces, accusing them of “failing to prevent Gaza’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster.”
Carney also accused Israel of violating international law by blocking Canadian-funded assistance to civilians in war-torn Palestinian enclaves.
“Canada is calling on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith,” he added.
“We repeat that Hamas is calling for immediate release of all hostages and that the Israeli government respects the integrity of the territory of the West Bank and Gaza.”
In the Diplomatic Cable in June, the US opposed measures to unilaterally recognize the Palestinian state, saying it could violate the interests of its foreign policy and could even elicit results.
In June, Washington’s Israeli ambassador, Mike Huckabee, said he didn’t believe an independent Palestinian state was the goal of the US foreign policy.
President Donald Trump expressed doubt about the solution to the two states that proposed US acquisition of Gaza in February.
Despite pressure not to do so, Macron has been leaning towards recognizing the Palestinian state for months as part of a bid to keep the idea of a solution for the two states alive.
French officials initially weighed the moves before the UN conference. The UN Conference had planned for France and Saudi Arabia to lay out the parameters of their roadmap to the Palestine province in June, ensuring Israel’s security.
The meeting was postponed under US pressure and after the 12-day Israeli-Iranian Air Force began, regional airspace closures made it difficult for representatives of some Arab countries to attend.
It was downgraded to a ministerial event on July 28th and July 29th, and the second event was held in September with the head of state and government bystanders.
It creates momentum
The decision to make a presentation ahead of next week’s meeting is intended to give the UN French team a framework to work with other countries considering or unsure about the Palestinian state.
According to diplomats, Macron is facing resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada to his push for recognition of the Palestinian state. Next week, around 40 foreign ministers will be in New York.
Israeli officials have spent months lobbying to prevent what is called “nuclear bombs” due to bilateral relations.
Sources familiar with the issue say Israeli warnings to France suggest the possibility of annexation of parts of the West Bank, from scaling intelligence sharing to complicating regional initiatives in Paris.
Israel has been fighting a catastrophic war in Gaza since the fatal attack on Israel by Palestinian extremist group Hamas in October 2023.
Palestinian authorities Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh thanked France, saying Macron’s decision in X reflects “France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.”
(Reporting by John Irish; Additional reports by Enas Arashley and Yomna Ehab of Cairo, edited by Ismail Shakil, Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez of Ottawa)
