logo
Marco Rubio says France's recognition of Palestinian state is ‘slap in the face for 7 October victims'

Marco Rubio says France's recognition of Palestinian state is ‘slap in the face for 7 October victims'

Independent3 days ago
The United States has condemned France's decision to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state, claiming it is 'serving Hamas propaganda'.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that his country will recognise Palestine as a state in September at the United Nations General Assembly. The move has sparked anger from Washington and Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "strongly rejects (Macron's) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly."
In a post on X he said: "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the decision by one of Israel's closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy."
In a diplomatic cable in June, the United States said it opposed steps to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, arguing it could go against US foreign policy interests and draw consequences. Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said in June he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a US foreign policy goal.
President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a US takeover of Gaza in February. The idea was condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN as a proposal of "ethnic cleansing".
The US and Israel's refusal to recognise Palestine sets them at odds with many of their Western allies.
Currently, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise the state of Palestine. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state once there is a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine.
Canada has also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its "failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza" and reiterating support for a two-state solution.
Despite this, none of the G7 countries – the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – currently recognise a Palestinian state.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also condemned France's decision, describing the move as "a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism'. He added that Israel would not allow the establishment of a "Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence."
Thanking France, the Palestinian Authority 's Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said on X that Mr Macron's decision reflected "France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Balmedie beach shut down for Donald Trump golf visit as part of massive security operation
Balmedie beach shut down for Donald Trump golf visit as part of massive security operation

Daily Record

time28 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Balmedie beach shut down for Donald Trump golf visit as part of massive security operation

President Donald Trump is expected to touch down in Aberdeen this evening. A full-scale security lockdown is in place at Balmedie Beach in preparation for Donald Trump's arrival on Monday as part of the final leg of his five-day trip to Scotland. ‌ The operation has seen police officers combing the dunes and shoreline around Trump's Menie Estate golf resort, just hours before he is expected to arrive in the Granite City this evening. ‌ Summer visitors were turned away from the beach and access to large parts of the beauty spot have been restricted as officers lined the area, keeping watch amid growing protest activity and anticipation of Trump's arrival. ‌ In unusual scenes at the often peaceful north-east coast, mounted officers were seen patrolling the beach while uniformed police stood along the dunes. The entire coastline adjacent to Trump's Aberdeenshire course has effectively been placed under lockdown. ‌ Protesters gathered near the Menie estate this morning, waving Palestinian flags and Scottish saltires, while others are expected to demonstrate in Aberdeen city centre later today. The clampdown comes as Trump met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 12.30pm today at Turnberry for talks on Gaza and trade. Following their meeting, the President is expected to fly from Turnberry at 3.45pm, before arriving in Aberdeen just before 6pm. ‌ He will spend his final night in Scotland at his luxury resort before unveiling a new course on Tuesday - named in honour of his late Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. The trip has seen Trump spend most of his time on the green, playing golf at both of his Scottish courses under a blanket of military-style protection. ‌ Police Scotland confirmed it has received support from forces across the UK as it deals with Trump's visit. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. First Minister John Swinney is also expected to meet with Trump during his stay. He has vowed to press Trump to exempt Scotch whisky from US trade tariffs. The US President is expected to depart Scotland on Tuesday evening, concluding one of the most heavily policed visits in recent Scottish history.

Trump says he does not endorse Netanyahu's claim there is no starvation in Gaza
Trump says he does not endorse Netanyahu's claim there is no starvation in Gaza

The Guardian

time28 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Trump says he does not endorse Netanyahu's claim there is no starvation in Gaza

Donald Trump has said he believes there is a famine in Gaza and he has told Israel that 'maybe they have to do it in a different way'. Speaking outside his hotel in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, on Monday, the US president said people in Gaza needed 'to get food and safety right now' and that he wanted to get ceasefire talks restarted. Asked if he agreed with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who said earlier on Monday that there was no starvation in Gaza, Trump replied: 'I don't know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry. We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food and other nations are now stepping up.' Asked if Israel had done all it could to avoid civilian casualties, Trump said: 'Nobody's done anything great over there. The whole place is a mess … I told Israel maybe they have to do it a different way.' Speaking alongside Trump, Keir Starmer said the events in Gaza were a 'real humanitarian crisis' and 'people in Britain are revolted at what they're seeing on their screens'. The US president said he did not believe Hamas would release the remaining Israeli hostages it was holding and that the US had 'given a lot of money to Gaza for food and everything else, a lot of that money is stolen by Hamas and a lot of that food is stolen'. Asked about the UK government's commitment to recognising a Palestinian state, Trump said: 'I'm not going to take a position, I don't mind him [the prime minister] taking a position. I'm looking for getting people fed right now.' Trump and Starmer were speaking outside the Trump Turnberry hotel and golf resort where they were due to hold a bilateral meeting on Monday. The crisis in Gaza is top of the prime minister's agenda in his talks with the US president. Downing Street indicated ahead of the meeting that Starmer would press Trump to take a tougher stance towards Israel and push for ceasefire talks to resume. The prime minister will hold an emergency cabinet meeting later this week to discuss the crisis amid international horror at the images of starvation in Gaza. Starmer is under pressure from senior members of his cabinet and over a third of his MPs to immediately recognise a Palestinian state. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is expected to attend a UN conference in New York this week being held to discuss a pathway towards this. Trump also suggested he would reduce the 50-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine before he imposed punishing tariffs, telling reporters he was 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin. Sign up to First Thing Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion He said: 'We thought we had that settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever. 'You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that's not the way to do it. So we'll see what happens with that.' He added: 'We're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number, because I think I already know the answer, what's going to happen.'

Trump says number one priority now in Gaza is getting people fed
Trump says number one priority now in Gaza is getting people fed

Reuters

time28 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Trump says number one priority now in Gaza is getting people fed

TURNBERRY, Scotland, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the number one priority in Gaza was getting people fed, because "you have a lot of starving people", adding that he was not going to take a position on Palestinian statehood at the moment. Trump, speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, said the United States had provided $60 million for humanitarian aid, and other nations would have to step up. He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and she told him European countries would step up their assistance very substantially. He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday. "We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up," Trump said. "It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now." Starmer agreed, saying: "It's a humanitarian crisis, right? It's an absolute catastrophe.... I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they're seeing on their screen." Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood. Trump also criticized the Hamas militant group for not agreeing to release more hostages, living and dead, and said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel's approach would likely have to change. "I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way," Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday. Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, Trump said, "Yeah, a ceasefire is possible, but you have to get it, you have to end it." He did not elaborate on what he meant.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store