LONDON (AP) – British, French and German leaders have called for Israel to have unlimited aid to Gaza and end the “humanitarian catastrophe.” French President Emmanuel Macron It announced that his country will become the first major Western power Recognize the Palestinian state.
A joint statement issued after Kohl between Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer and German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz called for an immediate ceasefire and said “withholding taxes of essential humanitarian assistance to civilians is unacceptable.”
The leaders said they were “ready to take further action to support the immediate ceasefire and political processes that lead to lasting security and peace for Israel, the Palestinians and the entire region,” but did not say what the action was.
France’s moves expose the European sector
Macron’s surprise announcement revealed how to mitigate and end the worsening humanitarian crisis among European allies known as the E3. Israel-Hamas War.
All three support the Palestinian state as a rule, but Germany said there is no immediate plan to follow French steps. United Nations General Assembly September.
Although the UK has not followed suit, the council has pressured both opposition lawmakers and members of his own Labour government to formally recognize the Palestinian state. Health Secretary Wes Street called for an announcement Tuesday that “Palestine’s condition remains, but remains to be recognized.”
On Friday, 221 of the House’s 650 lawmakers signed a letter urging Starmer to recognize the Palestinian state.
“Since 1980, we have supported the two states’ solutions. Such recognition gives the substance of that position,” said a letter signed by several government and opposition lawmakers.
After Friday’s E3 call, Starme condemned “continued hostages, hunger for humanitarian assistance against the Palestinian people, increased violence from extremist settlers groups and increasing violence in Israel’s disproportionate military escalation.”
He said that “awareness of the Palestinian state” must be one of the path to peace.
“I’m clear about that. But it must ultimately be part of a broader plan that will bring solutions and lasting security for the two states of Palestinian and Israeli,” he said.
Over 140 countries recognize the Palestinian state, including 12 Europeans. However, France is the first group of seven countries and the largest country in Europe to take that step.
Both Israel and the United States have denounced the French decision.
The UK has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state that exists with Israel, but it says recognition should come as part of the two negotiated state solution to the conflict.
Such a solution appears far away. On October 7, 2023, there were no substantial negotiations between Israel and Palestinians in years, even before the Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and sparked the current war.
The humanitarian crisis warns Israel’s allies
Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis Hunger is spreading and The children died of starvationeven among Israel’s closest allies raised alarms.
Germany has traditionally been a particularly stubborn ally of European Israel, and has developed relationships rooted in Holocaust history. Recognizing the Palestinian state is “one of the conclusion measures” when negotiating solutions for the two states, saying that they “we have no plans to recognize the Palestinian state in the short term.”
However, Berlin has also recently sharpened its tone, explaining that it is unable to tolerate Israeli military actions in Gaza and is seeking greater humanitarian assistance, but appears to prefer to try and influence Israeli officials through direct contact.
In a statement Friday, the German government said it was in a “constant exchange” with the Israeli government and other partners on issues that include the ceasefire in Gaza and the need to significantly improve humanitarian aid. He said that if there were no progress, he was “ready to raise the pressure,” but he didn’t go into detail about how to do this.
The UK has stopped selling weapons to Israel. Free trade talks temporarily suspended And it was approved Minister of the far right government And even though they are extremist settlers, priority is under strong pressure to do more.
His priorities also have been a strong critic of France’s decision, due to his desire to maintain good relations with the US administration. The British leader will meet President Donald Trump in a few days, but the president In Scotland Two visits Golf Course He owns there.
Jossimekelberg, a Middle Eastern expert on international affairs think tank Chatham House, said Macron’s decision to postpone final recognition until September would make a decision to “create some space” for other countries to board.
“We know that the UK is near, but we know that it’s not there,” he said. “This may encourage the grace we know that we are not the ones who rush to make such decisions.
___
Associated Press writer Geir Moulson from Berlin contributed to the story.
