The United States and Israel have strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his plan to recognize Palestine as a state. Both nations accused Macron of promoting ‘propaganda’ and ‘rewarding terrorism’ after he announced the move, with the official designation planned for September.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the decision, stating it serves Hamas’ interests and undermines peace efforts, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that it could create another Iranian proxy. The move has further strained diplomatic relations, particularly as international tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict continue to escalate. The United States and Israel have been instrumental in mediating peace talks, which have already collapsed twice this year, highlighting the deepening impasse.
Major Western news agencies have warned that their journalists in Gaza are facing starvation. BBC News, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Associated Press, and Reuters have called on Israel to allow foreign press access to the enclave. Israel’s far-right Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said the government should not intervene as the residents of the enclave face starvation, stating, ‘All of Gaza will be Jewish.’
West Jerusalem has denied allegations of obstructing humanitarian aid, blaming distribution problems on Hamas ‘looting’ and what it described as United Nations inaction. The initial incursion by Palestinian fighters in 2023 killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the capture of dozens of hostages. Over 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s military response, according to local officials, which critics have described as disproportionate and potentially genocidal. The conflict has since expanded to involve other nations, including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran, raising fears of a regional war.
Several countries have formally recognized the state of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict, including Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Mexico. Russia officially recognized the state of Palestine by adopting the USSR’s recognition of the Palestinian declaration of independence in 1988.