France recognizes Palestine: pressure on Israel is growing!

France recognizes Palestine: pressure on Israel is growing!

Almost two years after the start of the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, a new political turn is emerging. A number of Western states, led by France, plan to recognize a Palestinian state. These exciting developments coincide with the upcoming UN General Debate in New York Wesermarsch district newspaper reported. According to French President Emmanuel Macron, a prerequisite for recognition is the release of the hostages in Gaza.

Around 75% of UN member states already recognize the state of Palestine. With recognition by France as well as Great Britain and Canada, which recently became the first G7 states to take this step, Belgium, New Zealand, Luxembourg and San Marino could soon follow. This would mean that four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, Great Britain, China and France - would recognize Palestine, while the USA and Germany, which also oppose recognition, would be left out.

The UN General Assembly and the Middle East conflict

In a decisive step, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the so-called “New York Declaration” with 142 votes in favor. This represents another important step forward towards a two-state solution ZDF today reported. The paper calls on Hamas to cede control of the Gaza Strip and support a handover of weapons to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. In view of the intense fighting and enormous human suffering in the Gaza Strip, an international stabilization mission to ensure a ceasefire is also being discussed.

The war, which began with a devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, claiming around 1,200 lives, has led to a dramatic increase in humanitarian need in the Gaza Strip, where over 65,000 Palestinians are estimated to have lost their lives. The Israeli attacks on civilians and the ongoing fighting have been sharply criticized internationally.

Reactions to the developments

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, strongly rejects the recognition of a Palestinian state and sees it as a reward for terror. President Izchak Herzog expressed similar concerns, emphasizing that these steps would not contribute to the release of hostages. Ultra-right politicians in Israel are even calling for an annexation of the West Bank as a reaction to international movements.

Despite these challenges, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remains optimistic and describes the impending recognition as an important step towards peace. The goal remains the establishment of an independent state of Palestine that can exist peacefully alongside Israel. In this context, tensions are rising and negotiations seem more difficult than ever.

In this tense situation, the war in the Gaza Strip is far from over, despite ongoing international appeals for help and peace. The situation remains precarious and requires urgent attention from the international community.

The Middle East conflict is and remains a topic of the future that concerns not only those involved, but the entire world. The path to a sustainable solution is rocky, skirted by the shadows of past experiences of violence and current needs, as the voices of countries and Palestinians trying to make clear, calling for an end to the fighting and the beginning of a real dialogue.