Macron says Israel’s Gaza plan is path to ‘permanent war’

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City as a “disaster” and a path to “permanent war.”

“This war must end now with a permanent ceasefire,” Macron said in a statement, adding Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City was “a disaster of unprecedented gravity and a headlong rush into permanent war.”

Read more: Netanyahu to start new Gaza offensive soon, as hunger death tally reaches 217

“Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the primary victims of this strategy,” Macron said.

In the statement, Macron said it was important to establish a UN-mandated stabilisation mission to secure the Gaza Strip.

“The Security Council must now work to establish this mission and give it a mandate,” he said.

“I have asked my teams to work on this without delay with our partners,” Macron added.

TWO-STATE SOLUTION

Macron is the western leader who started the latest push for the two-state solution despite the US opposition and Israel’s anger.

France successfully co-chaired a conference on two-state solution at the UN along with Saudi Arabia. As a result, many countries have announced their plan to recognise the Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Read more: New Zealand to decide on Palestinian state recognition ‘by September’

‘MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY’

On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” he told reporters in Canberra.

He stressed the need for a permanent peace. “Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary.”

“Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.”

“There is a moment of opportunity here, and Australia will work with the international community to seize it,” Albanese said.

He said that Australia’s decision was predicated on reassurances from the Palestinian Authority that there would be “no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state”.