Last Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that under certain conditions establishing a "Palestinian state" is not only a "moral obligation but also a political demand." He also urged that if the situation in Gaza does not improve quickly, Western nations should take a hard stance against Israel and impose sanctions.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee remarked in an interview aired on Fox News that France could cede part of the Cote d'Azur to create a Palestinian state. He mentioned that people welcome the French doing so but do not wish for them to exert pressure on a sovereign entity. The Cote d'Azur in southern France is renowned for its beautiful coastline with cities like Nice and Cannes.

Huckabee noted that the events of October 7 “changed a lot,” referring to the unprecedented attacks by Hamas on Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. Hamas also kidnapped 251 individuals. To date, most hostages have been released, but Hamas still holds 58 hostages, one-third of whom are unaccounted for.

The attacks on October 7 triggered a new war, with the Israeli military conducting extensive operations in Palestinian territories in Gaza thereafter. Huckabee said that given that Israel is “at war,” France's UN initiative is “extremely inappropriate.”

Furthermore, Macron's comments were labeled by Israel as a “crusade against the Jewish state.” Israel has announced plans to establish “a Jewish-Israeli state” in the West Bank. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz commented that Macron's statement is a response to terrorist organizations that attempt to undermine Israel's control over the land, stating, “They may officially recognize a Palestinian state on paper—but we will establish a Jewish-Israeli state on the ground.”

This month, France and Saudi Arabia are set to host an international conference in New York at the UN to implement the “two-state solution,” aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully alongside Israel.

According to the Gaza health ministry, since October 7, Israeli military actions have resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children. The ministry did not disclose how many of the deceased were civilians versus combatants. Israel's offensive over the past year has destroyed large areas of Gaza, causing about 90% of the population to be displaced.

Recently, German Chancellor Merz also publicly criticized the Israeli actions in Gaza, stating that the impact on civilians, as seen in recent days, can no longer be justified as a counter-terrorism effort.