US and Israel condemn Macron's move to endorse Palestinian statehood
Macron made the statement Thursday, with an official declaration expected in September, saying the move would advance peace efforts in the Middle East. Washington and West Jerusalem have condemned the pledge, warning that it would have the opposite consequences.
'This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. 'It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,' 2023, he said, referring to the date Gaza-based Hamas militants led a deadly assault on southern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Macron's decision, calling it an act that 'rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.'
Qatar-mediated peace talks collapsed again this week, after the US and Israel pulled out of them, accusing Hamas of not acting in good faith.
Major Western news agencies have warned that their journalists in Gaza are facing starvation. BBC News, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Associated Press and Reuters have called on Israel to allow foreign press access to the enclave.
Israel's far-right Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said the government should not intervene as the residents of the enclave face starvation. 'All of Gaza will be Jewish,' he told local media.
West Jerusalem has denied allegations of obstructing humanitarian aid and blamed distribution problems on Hamas 'looting' and what it described as United Nations inaction.
The initial incursion by Palestinian fighters in 2023 killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the capture of dozens of hostages.
More than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel's miliary response, according to local officials, which critics have described as disproportionate and potentially genocidal. The conflict has since expanded to involve other nations, including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran, raising fears of a regional war.
Several countries have formally recognized the state of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict, including Spain, Norway, Ireland and Mexico.
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As expected, the events of October 7, 2023, became a turning point after which Israel's far-right government set a course toward the final elimination of the Palestinian issue. Under the pretext of ensuring national security and responding to attacks by Hamas, the Netanyahu government launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. However, behind the military rhetoric lies a strategic intent to dismantle any potential Palestinian self-governance and to displace the population – a process increasingly taking the form of ethnic cleansing. Despite the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza – tens of thousands killed, destroyed infrastructure, a blockade on humanitarian aid – the Israeli authorities continue their offensive, disregarding both international law and numerous calls for a ceasefire. The international community, including the UN and leading humanitarian organizations, has voiced strong condemnation of the ongoing events. 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In this context, the new state, in the Knesset's view, would become a 'terror base' operating in coordination with the 'axis of evil' led by Iran, aiming to destroy Israel. Thus, the declaration not only reflects the rigid ideological stance of the current political leadership but also effectively blocks any prospects for a political resolution to the Palestinian issue. However, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Israeli political establishment stopped there. Following the declaration against Palestinian statehood and the assertion of the West Bank's 'principled' belonging to the Jewish people, came another step deepening the course toward the de facto annexation of occupied territories. On July 23, 2025, the Knesset passed a new, even more radical, resolution. 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His death dealt a heavy blow to the moral and organizational core of the movement, which for decades symbolized resistance to Israeli expansion. Amid the chaos within Hezbollah following Nasrallah's elimination, Israel intensified its missile and air strikes on weapons depots, command posts, and infrastructure throughout southern Lebanon. In parallel, through the American diplomatic apparatus, Israel has been lobbying for an initiative to partially or fully disarm Hezbollah, appealing to Lebanon's new pro-Western government formed in early 2025. The strategy is based on the assumption that international support and economic pressure will force Beirut to withdraw backing for the Shiite armed group. Another direction of Israel's strategy is the Republic of Yemen, where systematic strikes have been carried out against positions of the Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis), which maintains close ties with Tehran. 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Through pro-Israel advocacy groups and allies within Trump's circle, he has been able to steer the White House toward decisions that serve his interests. A vivid example was the events of the 12-Day War with Iran, during which, despite internal disagreements within the US administration, Washington conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. This marked a critical turning point, effectively dragging Washington into direct military confrontation with Tehran – in defiance of the more cautious stance held by parts of the American strategic community. In addition, Israeli authorities have advanced another controversial initiative, which has already sparked backlash even within the US: the idea of relocating the Palestinian population from Gaza and transforming the coastal strip into a tourism and infrastructure project known as the 'Gaza Riviera.' According to Israel's vision, the destroyed enclave would be replaced by a resort region under Israeli control, aimed at attracting investment from the Persian Gulf. Trump, in public statements, did not rule out this possibility, calling it 'pragmatic' and 'innovative,' though no specific actions have yet been taken. Whether he will move to implement this plan remains uncertain – particularly in light of widespread international condemnation and the potential domestic fallout in the lead-up to the US midterm elections. The relationship between Israel and the US is increasingly marked by complexity and asymmetry: West Jerusalem continues to pursue its goals, even at the risk of straining ties with its closest ally, while Washington, despite growing fatigue with the conflict, remains reluctant to openly confront Netanyahu. Israeli authorities are systematically and deliberately pursuing the final elimination of the Palestinian issue while simultaneously seeking to weaken all regional competitors – from Iran and Türkiye to various militant groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. Military force, diplomatic pressure, lobbying, and propaganda are all employed as part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at the full occupation of Palestinian territories and consolidation of control over the West Bank and Gaza. Despite international condemnation, mass destruction, a humanitarian catastrophe, and violations of international law, Israel's leadership continues to push forward with its long-term objective – to establish Israel as the unchallenged regional power in the Middle East. However, the implementation of this strategy remains uncertain. First, there is no consensus among Western capitals – including Washington – on the Palestinian issue: parts of the political establishment advocate a restrained approach and the preservation of the two-state solution. Second, Israel's increasingly aggressive actions are fueling growing resentment among Arab states, intensifying confrontations with Iran and Türkiye, and pushing the region toward large-scale escalation. Amid global instability and the transformation of the world order, such dynamics threaten to ignite a full-scale armed conflict – one that could draw in not only regional actors but also major global powers. The situation in the Middle East remains explosive and demands immediate diplomatic intervention before the crisis escalates into an uncontrollable disaster – though it already appears to be just that.
