French President Emmanuel Macron has argued that formally recognising a Palestinian state would help isolate Hamas and strengthen the case for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking in an interview with Israeli television, Macron said recognition would make clear that the Palestinian people’s aspirations are distinct from Hamas’s militant actions.
France and Britain are among several Western nations preparing to push for Palestinian state recognition at the United Nations General Assembly this month. Macron warned that time is running out, saying it is the “last minute before proposing two states would become totally impossible,” as Israeli settlements expand in the West Bank.
Macron also criticised Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, calling it “totally counterproductive” and a strategic “failure.” He stressed that the offensive, marked by heavy civilian casualties, was undermining Israel’s global credibility and support.