Washington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The US blames France’s recognition of Palestine for collapsing Gaza ceasefire talks, saying it encouraged Hamas and hindered peace efforts.
As reported by The Telegraph, the US holds France responsible for the collapse of ceasefire talks with Hamas after its move to recognise Palestine.
What did Marco Rubio say about Macron and Gaza talks?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Emmanuel Macron’s recent move “emboldened” the Palestinian terror group. He said this led to the breakdown of negotiations meant to end the 22-month conflict.
Mr Rubio stated,
“Talks with Hamas fell apart on the day Macron made the unilateral decision that he’s going to recognise the Palestinian state.”
France declared on July 24 its intention to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first G7 nation and Security Council member to do so.
Mr Rubio criticised the move as “reckless” and called it a “slap in the face” to those affected by Hamas’s October 7 attack.
He stated,
“And then you have other people come forward, other countries say, ‘well, if there is not a ceasefire by September, we’re going to recognise a Palestinian state.’ If I’m Hamas, I’d basically conclude, ‘let’s not do a ceasefire, we can be rewarded, we can claim it as a victory.”
Mr Rubio added,
“So those messages, while largely symbolic in their minds, actually have made it harder to get peace and harder to achieve a deal with Hamas. They feel emboldened.”
What did JD Vance say about the US recognition of Palestine?
JD Vance, the US vice-president, stated on August 8 that the US has “no plans” to recognise the Palestinian state.
During a summer visit to Britain, he told the UK Foreign Secretary that the two nations have “disagreements” on the Gaza issue.
He said,
“We have no plans to recognise the Palestinian state. I don’t know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state given the lack of functional government there.”
Mr Vance stated,
“There’s a lot of common objectives here. There is some, I think, disagreement about how exactly to accomplish those common objectives, but look, it’s a tough situation. Of course, we’re not going to know exactly how to solve a very complicated problem.”
The vice-president joked,
“Unfortunately, the one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not,”
adding,
“It is great to be here… my wife and I love this area of the UK and we were actually here a couple of years ago.”
He added,
“We love this country. Just on a personal note, I have to say that I really have become a good friend, and David has become a good friend of mine, and so it’s great to spend some time here with him… you’ve been a very, very gracious host to me and the whole family.”
Which other countries are set to recognise Palestine after France?
After France’s recognition, Sir Keir Starmer said Britain will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel achieves peace in Gaza. Israel called this a “reward for Hamas.”
Canada also pledged to recognise Palestine, with several Western countries considering similar moves. The majority of UN members already recognise the Palestinian state.
What did Sir Keir say about Israel’s Gaza occupation plan?
Israel approved a plan that resulted in the full occupation of Gaza. The move sparked international criticism, with Sir Keir Starmer warning it would “only bring more bloodshed.”
The army has raised concerns about the plan. They say it will tire out soldiers and put Israeli hostages held by Hamas in danger.
How is Britain responding to the Gaza humanitarian needs amid the conflict?
Germany on Friday moved to stop all arms deliveries to Israel, signalling international condemnation and increasing Israel’s isolation over its conduct in the Gaza conflict.
On Saturday, Britain pledged an extra £8.5 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, saying it could reach thousands if the UN and other agencies operate at full capacity.
The UK called on Israel to reverse its plans to expand military operations and demanded increased aid access amid growing reports of starvation in Gaza.
Jenny Chapman, the Minister for International Development, stated,
“It is unacceptable that so much aid is waiting at the border – the UK is ready to provide more through our partners, and we demand that the Government of Israel allows more aid in safely and securely.”
What did JD Vance say about free speech concerns?
JD Vance said,
“I think the entire collective West, the transatlantic relationship, our Nato allies, certainly the United States under the Biden administration, got a little too comfortable with censoring rather than engaging with a diverse array of opinions.”
He added,
“So that’s been my view. Obviously, I’ve raised some criticism and concerns about our friends on this side of the Atlantic, but the thing that I say to the people of England, or anybody else, to David, is many of the things that I worry most about were happening in the United States from 2020 to 2024.”
What Did David Lammy Say About Shared Concerns With the US?
David Lammy stated,
“But, you know, there are areas where there are actually joint concerns, we both have a joint concern about outcomes for working people, that is the truth of it.”
He added,
“And we have also discussed issues like irregular and illegal migration and how we deal with those issues. So there are commonalities and there are differences, and that is the joy of living in democracies like ours.”
How many nations have recognised Palestine as a state?
Around 130 countries have recognised Palestine as a state, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
However, many Western countries, including the US and most of Europe, have not extended official recognition.