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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused President Emmanuel Macron of legitimizing the October 7 attack by Hamas with his decision to recognize a Palestinian state. Macron announced on July 24 that France would recognize the State of Palestine and make a formal announcement before the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state today is to recognize a Hamas state, and therefore a terrorist state,” Le Pen said on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. She further stated, “There is no fidelity to the history of France—quite the opposite—and even less a guarantee of peace for Israel.”
Macron’s move brings months of increasing French criticism of Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas to a head. The conflict was sparked by the October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel.
Le Pen, who leads the National Rally in the French National Assembly and is set to run for president again in 2027, posted: “While hope has always led us toward a two-state solution, this decision legitimizes the October 7th massacre and its trail of suffering. It is therefore a political and moral mistake, including toward Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’ rule.”
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a significant issue in France, which has a large Muslim population.
Hamas ‘Always Rejected the Two-State Solution’
Macron said his decision was “consistent” with France’s “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” and called for an end to the war as well as greater humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended the decision, stating that it proves Hamas wrong by supporting the side of peace against that of war.
Israel is trying to permanently remove Hamas from Gaza for security reasons and to free hostages taken there in the October 7 attack. However, the conflict has had a catastrophic effect on Palestinians living in densely populated Gaza, with entire neighborhoods destroyed and tens of thousands killed.
Entire areas have been demolished, and Israel at times restricts aid into Gaza due to concerns about smuggling by Hamas.
Israel Reacts to Macron’s Decision
Israeli’s Permanent Representative to the U.N., Danny Danon, criticized Macron’s decision. “Macron’s recognition after the October 7 massacre and when Hamas still holds hostages is a disgraceful reward for terrorism,” Danon said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
“Anyone who ignores reality—that Israel has no partner for peace—harms not only Israel but the entire region’s stability,” he added.
This article was updated on July 25, 2025.
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According to Marine Le Pen, what is the consequence of recognizing a Palestinian state?
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