RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed a statement by French Emmanuel Macron that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on social media on Thursday evening.
“The Kingdom commends this historic decision, which reaffirms the international community’s consensus on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement released on Friday said.
“The Kingdom underscores the importance of continued efforts by states to implement international resolutions and uphold international law.”
It added that the Kingdom renews its call to the rest of the countries that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to take similar steps in doing so.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly called for the creation of an independent state for the Palestinians.
Around 142 countries now support Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally.
The ministry statement urged all countries to adopt serious stances in support of peace and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Israel is currently conducting a devastating military campaign in Gaza and has been accused of using starvation as a war tactic.
An Israeli-backed organization distributing aid had been accused of shooting unarmed civilians trying to get food.
The UN said 875 people had been killed within the preceding six weeks near the aid sites created by Israel.
Peace negotiations to end the war and exchange prisoners and hostages appeared to have collapsed on Thursday night after US President Donald Trump recalled his negotiators.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said: “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
Hamas said they were surprised by Witkoff’s comments but would be willing to continue negotiations.
