“We support the efforts currently being led by the United States in the region to get an immediate ceasefire”

Published on July 31, 2025

You consider the two-state solution to be the only way of achieving peace. So you’re confirming Emmanuel Macron’s desire to recognize a Palestinian State. Why do so only now? What’s changed?

THE MINISTER – Because the two-state solution, which is the only one likely to bring peace and stability to the region, is in mortal danger, and the conditions had to be created for it to become credible again. That’s why around nine months ago we decided, with Saudi Arabia, to undertake an initiative to create momentum leading those involved – the Palestinian Authority and the region’s Arab countries, but also the whole international community – to make commitments. These commitments are crystallizing in New York today with a statement by the participating countries, which is historic and unprecedented in that the Arab countries – the countries of the region, of the Middle East – are, for the first time, condemning Hamas, condemning 7 October [attacks], calling for the disarmament of Hamas, calling for it to be excluded from participating in any way in Palestine’s governance and clearly voicing their intention to have normalized relations with Israel in the future and be part of a regional organization on the lines of ASEAN in Asia or the OSCE in Europe, alongside Israel and the future State of Palestine. This is a decisive step being taken, made possible by President Macron’s decision, among other things.

And a moment ago, the United Kingdom announced that it’s going to recognize Palestine as well, if Israel doesn’t make certain commitments. Do you welcome this decision by Prime Minister Keir Starmer? Has momentum been created?

THE MINISTER – I welcome it. Indeed, the United Kingdom has become part of the movement created by France to recognize the State of Palestine. With these crucial decisions announced by France and the UK, with the combined efforts of the whole international community gathered here in New York, we want to counter the cycle of violence and war and reopen the prospect of peace in the Middle East.

The United States isn’t participating in the conference taking place in New York at the moment. Regarding your initiative to advocate for a two-state solution, it’s denouncing an unproductive, ill-timed initiative resembling a publicity stunt. Donald Trump also reckoned that the statement by President Macron a little earlier, last Thursday, doesn’t carry any weight. What’s your reply to him?

THE MINISTER – Firstly, we support the efforts currently being led by the United States in the region to get an immediate ceasefire, the release of all Hamas’ hostages and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. But to secure a ceasefire, we still have to sketch out what happens after the war and the political horizon that goes with it. That’s the goal of this UN conference that France is chairing with Saudi Arabia. And in the document we’ve just adopted, with the countries that were part of it, we’re mapping out a credible prospect that’s going to make a positive contribution to a ceasefire being reached in Gaza. Moreover, these efforts we’ve led, these concessions the various parties have made will, at some point, enable the United States to resume the Abraham Accords process that it began during President Trump’s first term. We hope this time will come. But in the meantime, it was obviously unthinkable to stand by and do nothing. (…)

You said in New York that the two-state solution is the only possibility, that there’s no alternative. Given the situation on the ground for the moment, the two-state solution, as you’ve said yourself, is virtually dead. Isn’t there an alternative, though: for this Israeli Government gradually to bring the idea of any Palestinian State to a definitive end, annex the West Bank – in short, make “Greater Israel” a reality?

THE MINISTER – You’re right, the alternative to the two-state solution is a state of permanent war. And what we’re seeing today is the two-state solution being threatened, on the one hand, by supporters of “Greater Israel”, who want to deny Palestinians the right to self-determination, and attacked, on the other, by supporters of Hamas or others, who believe Palestine extends from the River Jordan to the sea. Through the historic decision President Macron took, which the British Prime Minister has just taken and others will take, through the commitments being made in New York by the Arab countries today, we’re agreeing with everyone else, the side of peace against the side of war. We’re reopening the possibility of a peace that will involve the two States living side by side in peace and security, with security for Israel and the right of the Palestinians to have their own State.

Yesterday, for the first time, two Israeli NGOs used the term genocide to refer to what’s happening in Gaza. Several countries have described what’s happening in the Palestinian enclave in that way. That’s the case with Spain and South Africa in particular. What’s France’s position today?

THE MINISTER – The French Government has no position to take on the legal description of the facts. That’s up to the international courts. What I can say is that the situation in Gaza is disastrous. Gaza is now a death trap where, as I said yesterday from the United Nations General Assembly rostrum, bodies bear the scars of famine and minds are ravaged by terror. It’s unacceptable that in humanitarian distribution queues, women and children are targeted and shot down in cold blood. It’s outrageous and it must stop. That’s why the meeting which was held in Brussels today – or will be held in a few minutes’ time – is so important. It will lead the European Union to speak out so that the Israeli Government finally hears our expectations: access for humanitarian aid and an end to the militarized aid-distribution system, payment by the Israeli Government of the €2 billion due to the Palestinian Authority, an end to, and the abandonment of, the pernicious settlement plans in the West Bank, and in particular the E1 plan for 3,400 housing units, which would cut the West Bank in two and strike a fatal blow to the prospect of two States and to the emergence of a State of Palestine./.