The ongoing violence in Gaza has prompted several hundred prominent figures in France, including politicians, trade unionists, athletes, artists, and researchers, to call for the official recognition of the State of Palestine. They argue that such a move would serve as a strong diplomatic symbol and honour the French Republic.

"How many? How many deaths, how many horrific scenes, how many children reduced to shreds, how many charred bodies, how many grieving families will it take in Gaza for France to finally use the tools at its disposal to stop the carnage?" reported l'Humanite.

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed conditional support for this recognition, tying his decision to reforms within the Palestinian Authority such as "assume responsibilities, including in Gaza." However, critics argue that immediate action is necessary given the continued Israeli occupation airstrikes and the mounting death toll, and added "The right moment was already yesterday, it is urgently today."

'Useful moment' not here yet

In more detail, Macron said that he "will not do an emotional recognition," saying that his government is looking to recognize Palestine "at a useful moment."

Despite never-ending Israeli onslaughts on the Palestinian population and the blatant violations of international law by the Israeli occupation, Macron and his predecessors have never been "totally ready" to recognize Palestinian statehood. 

"There are no taboos for France, and I am totally ready to recognize a Palestinian state… I think this recognition must be at a useful moment," Macron told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany.

Concurrently, Macron also condemned the Israeli operations in Rafah, calling them "horrifying", adding that they "must stop".

Yet, the French government has taken concrete steps to aid Palestinian rights or sanction the Israeli regime for its flagrant violation and disregard for international law, in order to facilitate an end to the horrifying Rafah invasion. 

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