As Israel’s war on Gaza rages on — marked by mass killings, starvation, sealed aid routes, and attacks on civilians, hospitals, and rescue teams — one might ask: do diplomatic efforts matter?
While the ultimate priority must be ending the assault and allowing humanitarian aid, diplomatic moves should not be dismissed. One such pivotal development came from French President Emmanuel Macron, during his early April 2025 visit to Egypt.
In Cairo, Macron publicly denounced the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank and announced France’s intention to officially recognise a Palestinian state by June 2025, as part of an international peace conference sponsored by the United Nations, and coordinated with Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution.
Despite the bleak reality in Gaza, this French declaration marks a positive shift. The fierce backlash from Israeli political and media circles — both official and unofficial — reflects the impact of this move.
France’s position carries weight. It is a nation deeply experienced in Middle Eastern affairs and historically known for its balanced diplomacy — from Charles de Gaulle’s independent stance that often irked Israel, to Jacques Chirac’s defiance in the West Bank, and François Mitterrand’s embrace of Yasser Arafat, when he declared the PLO charter outdated in 1990.
In this spirit, Macron appears to be reviving France’s traditional Arab policy, now in a tense global environment where Israel no longer hides its intentions to expel Palestinians. Such actions risk triggering wider regional instability — a threat subtly backed, directly or indirectly, by Washington.
By declaring the two-state solution as the only viable path forward, France also explicitly rejects any forced expulsion of Palestinians. This is not symbolic; France is a nuclear power, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and an influential actor in Europe and Africa.
Today, strategic power is less about trade volume and more about decisive positioning. France has the potential to reassert itself as a global player through the Middle East, especially as U.S. influence appears increasingly one-sided.
Macron’s position aligns with longstanding Arab positions, including the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, and echoes those of global powers like China and influential voices from the Global South. It also complements the Egyptian stance, driven by geography, history, and humanitarian urgency, and that of Saudi Arabia, host of the original Arab initiative.
His joint meeting in Egypt with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II went beyond optics. It laid foundations for a new diplomatic track — strengthening bilateral ties and supporting the reconstruction plan adopted at the recent Arab League summit, led by Cairo.
This may also signal a new approach to the Middle East outside the shadow of Washington, which has monopolised peace processes since Camp David in 1979. France will not replace the United States, but its actions — especially its clear rejection of displacement — may serve to curb U.S. complicity and rebalance discourse.
Macron’s visit and statements add momentum to shifting regional dynamics, as Israel quietly accelerates its forced displacement plans through fear, bombardment, and starvation, amidst an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Importantly, France’s move is sovereign, not bound by EU consensus, and may influence other EU members. While Germany and Italy are unlikely to follow suit, countries like Spain may be emboldened to act independently.
The Trump administration’s disruption of transatlantic unity, alongside Europe’s pursuit of a joint defence initiative, could push European powers to rethink their foreign policy, reducing reliance on Washington and increasing alignment on issues like Palestine.
Domestically, even within the U.S., growing dissent toward policies on the Middle East, immigration, and economic protectionism suggests that public resistance is swelling. Concerns about authoritarian drift and democratic erosion only add urgency.
In this context, the upcoming international conference on the two-state solution — led by France and Saudi Arabia — is more than symbolic. It represents a historic opportunity to ease tensions, correct past failures, and perhaps pave the way for a regional civilisational reconciliation.
Such a move is not only vital for Palestinians, but for global stability. The collapse of shared humanity, the rise of extremism, and unchecked displacement pose threats not just to Gaza, but to the world.
This conference is not merely diplomacy — it is a test of global conscience. And it must succeed.
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