France and the United Kingdom have officially recognized palestinian statehood, a move that has drawn criticism from both Israel and the United States. This progress occurs amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, marked by a severe hunger crisis and difficulties in aid delivery.
The joint statement from France and the UK, along with Norway, New Zealand, and Australia, emphasized their commitment to a two-state solution as the sole path to security and dignity for both israelis and Palestinians, and for long-term regional stability. they stated that this solution is threatened by extremist settler violence and the expansion of settlements.
Previously, Israel and the US had voiced opposition to such recognitions, arguing that they reward Hamas. In the past month, Canada aligned with the UK, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia in imposing sanctions on two far-right ministers within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at the time of earlier sanctions, described them as unhelpful and stated they did not contribute to US-led efforts to secure a ceasefire, facilitate the return of hostages, and end the conflict.
The recent declarations on recognizing Palestinian statehood come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with a meaningful hunger crisis and ongoing challenges in accessing essential aid. On Wednesday, the Israeli military reported that its forces fired warning shots in northern Gaza following reports of numerous individuals seeking aid being killed in the area.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated they were unaware of any casualties and that the circumstances of the incident are under review.Conversely, Yousef Abu al-Rish, undersecretary for the Gaza Ministry of Health, informed CNN that at least 60 people were killed and approximately 600 others injured in northern Gaza after Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point.
This story has been updated to reflect new developments.
