France urges global backing before recognizing Palestinian state
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France reaffirms its determination to recognize a Palestinian state but insists on acting within a broader international initiative.
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to journalists during the UA-EU foreign ministers' meeting in Lvov, Ukraine, on Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
France is "determined" to recognize a Palestinian state but will not act alone, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who made the statement just days before a conference on the issue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
"We are determined to do so," Barrot told RTL when asked if France would recognize a Palestinian state in the New York conference.
France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-chair the international conference from June 17 to 20, focused on reviving the "two-state" solution for the Palestinian struggle.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the goal is "to bring with us a number of countries, and also bring in all stakeholders, particularly the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries," emphasizing that France would not unilaterally make such a recognition official.
"France could have made a symbolic decision. That is not the choice we made because we have a special responsibility; it's France, a permanent member of the Security Council," the minister stated.
"If we do it, it's to change things and ensure that the existence of this Palestinian state becomes more credible, more possible," Barrot added.
He also stressed what Paris calls the "absolute necessity" of enforcing Hamas' disarmament as a critical factor for Gaza's future.
GHF; a militarized system of distribution
Foreign Minister Barrot denounced the "militarized system of distribution" of humanitarian aid in Gaza, where "Israel's" blockade lasting over two months has caused severe starvation.
"The result is chaos. This distribution system has sparked riots and deadly violence," Barrot pointed.
Harrowing footage from June 1 exposed Israeli forces firing live rounds at thousands of desperate Palestinian civilians crowding a US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution center in western Rafah, as starved families scrambled to secure food for their children.
More evidence implicates 'Israel' in harrowing Gaza aid massacre
A CNN investigation has revealed compelling evidence suggesting that invading Israeli units opened fire on Palestinians gathered at a humanitarian aid site in Rafah, southern Gaza, debunking official Israeli claims and raising serious questions about the safety of the aid distribution system supported by the US and "Israel".
The "Israeli hunger trap massacre" occurred early Sunday near the Tal al-Sultan distribution site and resulted in the killing of at least 31 Palestinians, with dozens more wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Video evidence, geolocation analysis, and eyewitness testimonies strongly indicate that Israeli gunfire at the Gaza aid site was responsible for the victims, CNN reported.
According to the news network, more than a dozen eyewitnesses, including injured survivors, reported that Israeli troops fired in volleys at the crowd. Footage reviewed by CNN, geolocated to the al-Aalam roundabout approximately 800 meters from the fenced aid area, shows sustained bursts of gunfire. Forensic analysis confirmed the firing pattern matched machine guns typically mounted on Israeli tanks.
