French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state is the best solution to fully isolate Hamas.
In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, Macron said, “Israel’s image and credibility are heading toward complete destruction in the region and in public opinion everywhere.”
He reiterated France’s condemnation of “the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7,” emphasizing that “his top priority remains the release of all hostages, and that still stands today.”
Macron described Israel’s military operations as a failure, saying, “The number of Hamas fighters today is the same as it was two years ago,” and stressed that “recognizing a Palestinian state is the best way to isolate Hamas.”
He added, “Perhaps we should have done this earlier, before October 7, frankly. This might be the last moment before the two-state solution becomes completely impossible.”
Regarding Israel’s efforts to annex parts of the West Bank, Macron commented, “I believe this is unjust and irresponsible. It’s unjust because the West Bank has nothing to do with Hamas. When people start saying that our response—whether to recognition or the current situation—will be rebuilding settlements in the West Bank, that’s clear evidence that this is a political project not aimed at dismantling Hamas.”