France’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strong response to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested that France’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood disrupted the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations. A post on X, originating from an account linked to the French Foreign Ministry, rejected Rubio’s accusations. The post explicitly stated that recognizing the State of Palestine did not cause the breakdown of hostage negotiations. The French ministry’s response included a timeline of events: a screenshot of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement concerning the peace talks’ failure, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron’s post on the recognition of a Palestinian state. Macron’s statement underscored the need for Hamas’s disarmament and its exclusion from governance in Gaza. Rubio had previously criticized Macron’s actions, labeling the decision as ‘reckless’ and claiming it harmed peace efforts. He has maintained that Hamas immediately ceased negotiations and increased demands following France’s announcement. Macron had earlier revealed plans for France to officially recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly. Other countries, including Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, are also poised to recognize the State of Palestine. Belgium has joined this call and demanded ‘firm sanctions’ against Israel. Furthermore, Macron announced that France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair a high-profile conference on the Two-State Solution in New York on September 22, and he urged the U.S. to reconsider its decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials, emphasizing the importance of Palestinian representation at the conference.
France Disputes Marco Rubio’s Claim: Palestinian Statehood Recognition Did Not Derail Ceasefire Talks
