French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine, marking a significant geopolitical shift as global outrage mounts over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. In a statement published on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Macron said he will formalize the recognition during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” he wrote. France will become the most powerful and influential European nation to recognize Palestine, joining more than 140 countries that have already done so, including Ireland, Spain, and Norway. The move underscores the mounting pressure on world leaders to take concrete steps in the face of what humanitarian agencies describe as an unprecedented famine and civilian death toll in Gaza. Macron’s announcement comes after months of growing discontent over Israel’s military operations in the enclave, which began following Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023. While the French president initially reaffirmed support for Israel and has consistently condemned antisemitism, recent months have seen a marked shift in tone, reflecting frustration with the scale and…
