France has called on the European Union to exert pressure on Israel to embrace a two-state solution with the Palestinians, escalating its diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war following its pledge to recognize Palestine as a state in September. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking at a UN meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, stressed the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric to actionable steps. “The European Commission must outline clear expectations and incentives to compel Israel to heed this call,” Barrot said, addressing the first day of a high-level conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict attended by representatives from 125 countries, including 50 ministers.

The conference, downgraded from a June summit to a ministerial meeting, aims to counter the “erasure” of the two-state solution, long seen as the only viable path to peace. Barrot urged the EU to demand Israel lift a €2 billion financial blockade on the Palestinian Authority, halt West Bank settlement expansion that undermines a future Palestinian state’s territorial integrity, and end the “militarized” food delivery system in Gaza, which he linked to hundreds of civilian deaths. European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica echoed the need for Israel to release owed funds and allow unimpeded aid to Gaza, noting the EU’s exploration of new sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly marks France as the only G7 nation to take this step, a symbolic move to pressure Israel, joining over 140 countries, including a dozen in Europe. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa urged others to follow, stating, “The path to peace begins by recognizing the state of Palestine and preserving it from destruction.” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan tied Israel-Arab normalization to Palestinian statehood, a stance reinforced by the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the two-state solution, citing nationalistic and security concerns, a position backed by the U.S., which boycotted the conference, calling it “unproductive and ill-timed.” U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized America’s focus on “real-world efforts” for peace. However, President Donald Trump’s call for increased Palestinian aid signals a rare divergence from Netanyahu, who denies starvation in Gaza despite reports of famine-related deaths. Both Barrot and Farhan praised Trump’s January 2025 ceasefire as evidence of U.S. influence, with Farhan expressing hope that Trump’s engagement could resolve the 21-month Gaza crisis and the broader conflict.

The conference, held amid global outrage over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, highlighted international divisions. France’s push aligns with its long-standing support for a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, and its condemnation of Israel’s settlement policies as violations of international law. The absence of Israel and the U.S. underscores the challenge of achieving consensus, yet France’s leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia and supported by countries like South Africa and Brazil at the ICJ, signals a growing global call for accountability and peace.

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