French president says ‘totally ready’ to recognize Palestinian state, but at ‘useful moment’

By Nur Asena Erturk

The French president said Tuesday he is “totally ready” to recognize the Palestinian statehood, but it must be at a “useful moment.”

“There are no taboos for France, and I am totally ready to recognize a Palestinian state … I think this recognition must be at a useful moment,” Emmanuel Macron told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany.

He stressed the need for a political process to give a “useful result” and said: “I will not do an emotional recognition.”

Macron vowed that there are no double standards regarding the civilians suffering in conflicts in different parts of the world.

He described the situation in Rafah as “horrifying,” and added: “The operations must stop in Rafah.”

Macron reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself, but noted that it must be done while respecting international and humanitarian law.

He, however, said that there is no safe place for Palestinian civilians.

“We support the Algerian request to hold an urgent meeting (at the UN) and we work with Algeria and all our partners in the Security Council on a joint resolution that would (not only) answer the humanitarian urgency in the field, but also give answers in terms of a cease-fire, and give a clear UN mandate on Gaza,” Macron explained.

He stressed that France is also ready to work on a peace solution, and said that the “most useful action now is to get a cease-fire.”

France openly expressed support for Israel since the beginning of the onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023.

Ireland, Norway, and Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state on Tuesday, and Belgian officials said they would wait a bit more for a "useful" impact.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7 despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 36,100 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and over 81,000 others injured.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.