Hamas also welcomed the recent statement by French President Emmanuel Macron that France could recognize a Palestinian state by June, in defiance of criticism from Israel’s foreign minister against the proposed plan.
Mahmoud Mardawi, one of the most senior officials from Hamas, remarked, “We receive the words expressed by President Macron concerning France’s willingness to recognize the State of Palestine positively.” He emphasized that the declaration represents an “important step” that could indicate a new direction in the international perspective regarding the rightful claims of the Palestinian people.
In an interview with France 5 television last week, Macron confirmed plans to seek recognition of a Palestinian state in the coming months, possibly in parallel with a UN conference in New York in June. “We have to advance towards recognition, and we will do so within the coming months,” he said after visiting Egypt.
Mardawi underlined the significance of France as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. “France can put pressure to achieve fair solutions and for the termination of the occupation, in accordance with the will of the Palestinian people,” he declared, declaring that such are their desires as “freedom, independence, and establishing their state on their land with Jerusalem as the capital.”
Palestinian State Minister of Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, who operates from Ramallah, shared the same sentiments as Mardawi. According to him, the French recognition of Palestinian statehood would be a positive move toward the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the upholding of the two-state solution.
In contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Macron’s remark as “a reward to terror and an encouragement for Hamas.” He alerted that this will not advance the cause of peace, security, or stability within the region, but push such ideals even farther away.
Currently, nearly 150 countries have acknowledged a Palestinian state. Ireland’s, Norway’s, and Spain’s recognitions in May of 2024 followed by Slovenia in June were partially driven by outrage at the disproportionate number of civilian casualties due to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, prompted by Hamas’s attack in October of 2023.
