France to recognize the State of Palestine, says Macron

France will officially recognize the state of Palestine, “true to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.

“I will make the solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly” in September, Macron said in a statement.

“There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. It is also necessary to ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza,” Macron continued.

“Finally, it is essential to build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East.”

Israel condemned Macron’s decision “in the wake of the October 7 massacre.”

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it,” Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Thursday.

“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz accused France of “working to weaken” Israel instead of standing by it.

“Macron’s announcement of his intention to recognize a Palestinian state is a disgrace and a capitulation to terrorism, and a reward and a back-up for the Hamas murderers and abettors, who committed the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Katz said.

“We will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian entity that will harm our security and endanger our existence and harm our historical right to the Land of Israel,” Katz said.

Ceasefire talks stand on brink
Israel said ceasefire talks with Hamas have not collapsed, even after the U.S. announced it is departing Qatar, where negotiations were taking place.

Israel said Thursday that it will return to Qatar to continue negotiations, but said it is unwilling to budge on what Hamas has said must be in a final deal, including an end to the war and a mechanism to get aid into Gaza.

The U.S. is bringing home its team from Doha, Qatar, “after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza,” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on social media.