Macron calls recognising Palestinian state a 'moral duty', says Europe must harden stance on Israel
French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that European countries should "harden the collective position" against Israel if it does not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
With international pressure mounting on Israel over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, Macron said action was needed "in the next few hours and days".
He also asserted recognition of a Palestinian state with conditions was "not only a moral duty, but a political necessity".
If there was no response in line with the humanitarian situation in Gaza "in the coming hours and days ... we will have to harden our collective position," Macron said on a visit to Singapore.
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This meant dropping an assumption that human rights were being respected "and apply sanctions", the French leader said hours before addressing a defence summit in the city-state.
Macron and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are among the world leaders, diplomats and top defense officials in Singapore this weekend for the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum. The French president will open the conference with a keynote address Friday night.
In its published Indo-Pacific strategy, France has underscored the need to 'preserve a rules-based international order' in the face of 'China's increasing power and territorial claims' and its global competition with the United States.
France's own ties to the Indo-Pacific are strong, with more than 1.6 million of its citizens living in the region in French overseas territories.
Macron is on a diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia that also saw him visit Vietnam and Indonesia earlier this week.
While in Jakarta, Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued a joint statement condemning Israeli plans to take control of Gaza and any moves to "forcibly remove the Palestinian population from their homeland".
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Paris hoped to "trigger a movement of recognition for a Palestinian state under certain conditions", including the demilitarisation of Hamas and recognition of Israel's right to exist and protect itself, Macron said in the Indonesian capital.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remained dire despite aid beginning to trickle back into the territory after a more than two-month Israeli blockade.
Food security experts said starvation was looming for one in five people.
Israel has also intensified its military offensive in what it said was a renewed push to destroy Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war.
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