Hamas has hailed French President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood as an “important step” toward fulfilling Palestinian national aspirations, amid cautious hope in Gaza and sharp criticism from Israel.

In an interview with AFP, Hamas official Mahmud Mardawi described Macron’s statement as a “positive shift” in global support for Palestinian rights. “France, as a permanent UN Security Council member, has the political weight to influence fair solutions and help end the occupation,” Mardawi said, emphasizing the significance of Macron’s announcement.

Macron, speaking on France 5 television, said France would work toward recognizing a Palestinian state “in the coming months,” potentially formalizing the decision at a UN conference in New York in June. The remarks come as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza faces mounting international condemnation, with a rising civilian death toll fueling calls for diplomatic action.

In Gaza, residents greeted the news with guarded optimism. “We are a suffering people, and we are still suffering,” said Ibrahim Musa, a Gaza City resident, expressing hope that Western nations would push to end the conflict. Salwa Al-Shandaghli, another resident, welcomed France’s stance but urged broader support: “This pressure is not enough. We need stronger backing from other countries to confront the Israeli occupation.”

In the West Bank, Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin called France’s potential recognition a “step in the right direction” to safeguard Palestinian rights and revive the stalled two-state solution.

Israel swiftly condemned the French position. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled Macron’s remarks a “prize for terror” and a “boost for Hamas,” arguing that recognizing Palestinian statehood would undermine peace efforts.

France’s move aligns with a growing wave of recognitions, with nearly 150 countries already acknowledging Palestinian statehood. Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognized Palestine in May 2024, followed by Slovenia in June, driven partly by outrage over Gaza’s civilian casualties since Israel’s offensive began in response to Hamas’s October 2023 operation.

If France follows through, its recognition could mark a pivotal shift in Europe’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Israel as global demands for a ceasefire and a just resolution grow louder. (ILKHA)