Macron says France could recognize Palestinian state in June
CAIRO – 9 April 2028: France is planning to recognize a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a UN conference in New York in June on settling the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.
'We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,' Macron told France 5 television. 'Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalize this movement of mutual recognition (of a Palestinian state) by several parties,' he added.
Macron condemned on Tuesday, the targeting of humanitarian and relief teams in the Gaza Strip.
According to al Qahera news channel, Macron considered the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza a 'top priority.'
The French president stressed that a political solution is the only way to achieve a settlement in Gaza, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire in Gaza as a prelude to launching a political process.
Macron visited on Tuesday al Arish city, as part of his high-level official visit to Egypt.
Presidency Spokesperson, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy stated this visit affirms France's solidarity with Egypt's significant efforts in receiving and caring for the Palestinians affected by the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The visit included a tour by Presidents El-Sisi and Macron of Al-Arish General Hospital, where they met with a number of injured Palestinians, particularly women and children. They also visited the Egyptian Red Crescent's logistics center designated for collecting humanitarian aid provided by Egypt and other countries for delivery to the Gaza Strip.
During the visit to Al-Arish General Hospital, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, briefed the two presidents on the Egyptian government's efforts to provide healthcare and necessary treatment for the injured Palestinians arriving from Gaza.
He noted that Egypt has received around 107,000 injured Palestinians, conducted the required medical examinations, and vaccinated 27,000 Palestinian children. He added that Egyptian hospitals have received over 8,000 injured Palestinians suffering from various wounds, accompanied by 16,000 escorts.
More than 5,160 surgeries have been performed, and 300 hospitals across 26 Egyptian governorates have treated Palestinian patients. Currently, injured Palestinians are present in 176 hospitals across 24 governorates in Egypt, with accommodation and basic needs provided for all their companions.
Regarding Egypt's ambulance efforts, 150 ambulances have been allocated in North Sinai to receive cases coming through the border from the Palestinian Red Crescent, and to distribute them across Egyptian hospitals with the help of 750 medics and drivers.
The minister of health added that the total cost of medical services that Egypt provided amounts to approximately $578 million.
The amount is expected to reach $1 billion, as the state bears the costs of subsistence, hosting, and accommodation, also taking into account that the amount of in-kind aid Egypt has received from other countries does not exceed 10% of the total cost it has incurred since the outbreak of the crisis.
He also said that the Ministry of Health has allocated 38,000 doctors and 25,000 nurses of various specialties to deal with medical cases, in addition to providing the necessary treatment for chronic cases for those arriving from the Gaza Strip.
He explained that the President has given directives to the government, particularly the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the crisis to take all the necessary measures to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians.
The Spokesman for the Presidency confirmed that the President emphasized the unwavering position of both the leadership and people of Egypt in support of the Palestinian brothers.
He noted that Egypt is making strenuous efforts and intensive diplomatic endeavors to achieve an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to ensure that the necessary humanitarian aid reaches the people in the Strip.
This is in order to save the lives of the innocent and protect the brotherly Palestinian people from the repercussions of the aggression.
President El-Sisi thanked the French side for its support in contributing to providing the necessary medical care to the wounded Palestinians. The spokesman added that the two presidents emphasized the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and the importance of working to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid and to ensure the protection of civilians and relief workers. Both presidents emphasized their categorical rejection of any attempts aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land.
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