Israeli operations from Rafah must cease. France is fully prepared to recognize Palestine as an independent state, but it must be at an ‘opportune moment’.
French President Emmanuel Macron says France is fully prepared to recognize Palestine as a state, but it must be at an “opportune moment”. Emmanuel Macron said this at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany on Tuesday (May 28).
There is no hiding for France, the French president said, “I am fully prepared to recognize Palestine as an independent state… I think this recognition should be at an effective moment.”
Emmanuel Makhon described the situation in Rafah as dire and said that the Israeli operation from Rafah must be stopped.
Makhon said Israel has the right to defend itself, but must respect international and humanitarian law.
The French president stressed that France is ready to work towards a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem, and that the most important thing at the moment is a ceasefire.
However, on October 7 last year, France publicly expressed its support for Israel when Israel launched an attack on Gaza.
Ireland, Norway and Spain formally recognized Palestine as a state on Tuesday (May 28), and Belgian officials said they too were waiting for an opportune time to recognize Palestine.
Israel has continued its brutal attacks on Gaza since October 7. Israeli attacks have so far killed more than 36,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children. More than 81 thousand people were injured.
Gaza has been reduced to rubble after more than seven months of Israeli attacks. In most areas of the valley, there is an acute shortage of food, clean water and medicine.