Gulf countries welcome France's recognition of Palestinian state
KUWAIT: Kuwait has welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine, calling it a significant step toward achieving justice for the Palestinian people. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lauded the French decision, describing it as a vital move that supports the implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The ministry stressed that the decision contributes to enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
It also called on other nations to take similar steps in order to advance a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. France's move marks a major development in European diplomacy, making it the first G7 country to formally announce recognition of Palestine. The announcement was made by President Macron ahead of an upcoming United Nations meeting in September, where formal recognition is expected to be declared. Saudi Arabia, along with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states,
also welcomed the decision. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs described it as a 'historic decision' that reflects international consensus on the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state. It urged other countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to take similar 'positive steps.'
Qatar, which has played a key mediating role in indirect negotiations between Zionists and Hamas during the ongoing Gaza conflict, praised France's move as a significant show of support for the Palestinian cause. Its foreign ministry said the decision 'contributes to advancing prospects for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region.' The GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, issued a statement praising France's stance, reaffirming collective Arab support for Palestinian statehood and lasting peace in the region.
GAZA: Displaced Palestinians at the Nuseirat refugee camp haul food parcels and other items they managed to get from a GHF aid distribution point at the so-called 'Netzarim corridor' in the central Gaza Strip on July 26, 2025. – AFP
Zionist fire kills 25
Gaza's civil defense agency said Zionist fire killed 25 people on Saturday in the Palestinian territory devastated by more than 21 months of war. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the dead included nine people killed in three separate air strikes in Gaza City. Eleven people were killed in four separate strikes near the southern city of Khan Yunis, while two were killed in a drone strike in Nuseirat refugee camp, he added. Bassal said three people were killed by Zionist gunfire while waiting for aid in three separate incidents in northern, central and southern Gaza. One of the three was killed 'after Zionist forces opened fire on people waiting for humanitarian aid' northwest of Gaza City, the agency said.
Witnesses told AFP that several thousand people had gathered in the area. One of them, Abu Samir Hamoudeh, 42, said the Zionist military opened fire 'while the people were waiting to approach the distribution point', located near a Zionist military post in the Zikim area, northwest of Sudaniyah. The Zionist military told AFP that its troops fired 'warning shots to distance the crowd' after identifying an 'immediate threat'. The civil defense agency said another man was killed by a drone strike near Khan Yunis, while one was killed by artillery fire in the Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza.
The Zionist military said it was continuing its operations in Gaza, adding that it killed members of a 'terrorist cell' which it accused of planting an explosive device. It said the air force had 'struck over 100 terror targets' across Gaza over the previous 24 hours. Bassal said civil defense teams also recovered the bodies of 12 people following Zionist bombardment north of Rafah the previous night. The recovery operation was conducted in coordination with the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), he said, adding that the bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency and other parties. Zionist entity launched its military campaign in Gaza after a deadly attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023. The Zionist campaign has killed 59,676 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.- Agencies
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