France, 14 other nations urge recognition of Palestinian state

PARIS: France and 14 other Western nations called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, France’s top diplomat said Wednesday.

Read more: ‘No alternative’ to two-state solution: France

“In New York, together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognise the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X account, following a conference aimed at reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

The 14 countries signing the document are: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Spain, Finland, France, Island, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saint Marin and Slovenia.

Meanwhile, the statement came on a day which also saw French President Emmanuel Macron criticising a framework deal struck between the European Union and the United States.

Read more: Macron wary of EU-US trade deal as Merz sees damage to Germany

The United States has described the recent conference on two-state solution a “publicity stunt”, while President Donald Trump says recognising the Palestinian state will benefit Hamas.

COMMITTED TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION

Signed by the foreign ministers of these nations, the document reads we “reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions.”

In this connection, the statement stressed “the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority”.

Read more: Over 60,000 killed in Gaza where famine is unfolding

Meanwhile, the document also mentions the upcoming UN General Assembly session, where France has announced that it will recognise the Palestinian state.

It said they “invite all countries that have not done so [recognised the Palestinian state or expressed willingness to do so] to join this call”.

GAZA RECONSTRUCTION SANS HAMAS

However, the statement condemned the Oct 7 attacks and called for disarming Hamas while empowering the Palestinian Authority.

In this connection, they said “[We] express our determination to work on an architecture for the ‘day after’ in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance”.