France has tempered expectations regarding the quick recognition of a Palestinian state, stating that any recognition must be substantive rather than “symbolic,” according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. As France prepares to co-host a UN conference on a two-state solution with Saudi Arabia, President Macron expressed frustration with Israel’s aid blockades in Gaza and indicated that France’s recognition would aim to encourage other nations to follow suit. Meanwhile, tensions between Israel and France have escalated, particularly after Macron’s calls for a stronger European response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
