France will officially recognise the State of Palestine in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced.
This move will make France the first country among the G7 group of major industrialised nations to do so. The official announcement will be made during the UN General Assembly session in New York.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Macron wrote: “The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”
He added that France, remaining true to its historic commitment to a lasting peace in the Middle East, will recognise the State of Palestine.
He emphasised the need for the demilitarisation of Hamas, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the eventual recognition of Israel by Palestine.
“Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative.”
Macron also attached a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming the decision.
The Palestinian leadership welcomed the move. Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy to President Abbas, said: “This position reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
Hamas also praised the decision as a “positive step in the right direction,” urging other nations to follow France’s lead.
US and Israel Reaction
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the announcement.
He stated: “We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the 7 October massacre. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
The United States also rejected Macron’s announcement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the decision “reckless” and stated the US “strongly rejects” it.
European and Arab States Reaction
In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded by stating he would hold an “emergency call” with French and German leaders to find ways to stop the violence.
He said: “Statehood is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people,” and that a ceasefire would “put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.”
The UK foreign affairs committee also urged immediate recognition of Palestine, saying: “An inalienable right should not be made conditional,” and warned that the window to recognise a viable Palestinian state may be closing.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry welcomed France’s step, stating it “reaffirms the international community’s consensus on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.”
Ongoing Conflict in Gaza
France’s announcement comes amid continued conflict in Gaza. Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages, Israel has carried out extensive military operations in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 59,106 people have died in the territory, and much of the area has been destroyed.
UN agencies have raised alarms over a growing humanitarian crisis. The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) reported that one in five children in Gaza City is now malnourished.
Over 100 international aid and human rights organisations have warned of mass starvation.
Israel denies enforcing a siege on Gaza and blames Hamas for the situation, stating that it is responsible for the lack of aid reaching civilians.
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Netanyahu Faces Backlash Over Gaza Women’s Rights Claims
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said on the Full Send Podcast that he was concerned about the condition of women in Gaza.
He claimed, “The women of Gaza are property, they’re nothing, they have no rights, they’re completely subjugated. God forbid if they’re executed anytime they commit a so-called offence. I mean, it’s absurd.”
He also criticised young people who he said were “duped” into supporting Hamas, adding, “They say good is bad and bad is good. Have they no eyes to see, no ears to hear?” quoting the Bible.
Realities on the Ground
While Netanyahu voiced concern for Gazan women, critics pointed out that his government has been widely accused of denying those very women access to health, safety, and basic rights.
UN data shows that women and children make up more than half of the over 59,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023. Early reports placed that figure closer to 70%. In the first six months, 2,036 women and 3,588 children were confirmed killed out of 8,119 civilian deaths.
The UNFPA estimates there are 50,000 to 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with 18,500 displaced from Rafah alone.
UN agencies report severe shortages of food, water, and medicine as Gaza remains under siege. Over two-thirds of the health system is not working.
The WHO recorded 686 attacks on healthcare in Gaza. Only eight hospitals still offer maternity care, and reproductive services are nearly gone.
Public Backlash
Netanyahu’s comments were met with disbelief and anger on social media.
One user wrote, “They’re oppressed… so we’re saving them by bombing them.”
Another said, “The women in Gaza are educated, doctors and nurses, lawyers, engineers, artists and teachers… Trying to reduce them to oppressed women because they dress in hijab, modest clothing is disgusting.”
“Imagine claiming to care about the rights of women in Gaza while bombing their homes, starving their children, and denying them access to healthcare and safety. There is no feminism in the occupation. You can’t liberate women by killing them,” one user wrote.
Someone else posted, “Have you no eyes to see, the genocidal Israeli regime that has been, for 655 days, slaughtering and starving 2M Palestinians?!?”
Many users called out what they saw as hypocrisy and erasure of Palestinian women’s real identity, women who have long contributed to healthcare, education, art, and community leadership in Gaza.
Netanyahu on Freedom and Choice
In the same podcast, Netanyahu said, “The people who are oppressed by Hamas are seen as supporting Hamas. Why are they locked in? They should be allowed to leave. Give them the choice, the freedom, a life, a future.”
However, critics pointed out that Israel and Egypt have jointly controlled Gaza’s borders for almost 20 years. Most Palestinians, especially women and children, cannot leave. Even humanitarian aid faces entry restrictions.
Starvation and Health Crisis
The blockade has triggered severe hunger. Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported 101 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, including 80 children.
Another 46 hunger-related deaths were recorded in July. The WHO described it as “man-made mass starvation.”
Nearly one-third of Gaza’s population goes days without food. About 10–20% of pregnant women and young children suffer from moderate to severe malnutrition.
Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach aid points since May, according to humanitarian sources.
Widespread displacement, broken healthcare, and food scarcity have taken a heavy toll on civilians, especially women.
Netanyahu’s comments about freeing Gaza women come as the same military campaign led by his government continues to destroy the very systems women rely on for survival. Critics argue that this contradiction is not just political but deeply inhuman.
As one user summed up: “Have you no eyes to see the genocidal Israeli regime that has been, for 655 days, slaughtering and starving 2M Palestinians?”
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