When Macron made the announcement, he said “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”.
He has previously publicly criticised antisemitism as being against French values and increased security to protect synagogues and other Jewish centres in response to antisemitic incidents linked to the Gaza conflict.
The war was prompted by an attack in southern Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023. It saw around 1,200 people killed and 251 others taken hostage.
Jerusalem launched an offensive in response which has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Last week, a famine was confirmed in Gaza City. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said more than half a million people were facing “catastrophic” conditions characterised by “starvation, destitution and death”.
Israel denied there was starvation in the territory and labelled the report an “outright lie”.