French President Emmanuel Macron has responded to remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state as as “rewarding” Hamas.
Echoing the Israeli government, Trump had stated that recognizing a Palestinian state would constitute a “reward” for Hamas for its “horrific atrocities.”
In a direct rebuttal, Macron said it was “completely wrong” to frame the move in this manner, adding that recognizing Palestine is the only way to isolate the movement.
The French President emphasized that a Palestinian state would only become a reality “The day it is recognized by the state of Israel.”
Speaking from New York, Macron warned that France “will not stand idly by” if Israel takes retaliatory action following the official recognition of a Palestinian state.
“We are prepared, we have planned for all possible options, which means we will never stand idly by,” he continued.
Macron concluded, “We are simply planning in advance, and we will always defend France’s interests wherever they are.”
This statement comes amid reports from diplomatic sources, cited by Al Jazeera, which anticipate the closure of the French Consulate General in Jerusalem.
