French President Emmanuel Macron rejected US President Donald Trump's claims that he has secured peace in Gaza, saying no humanitarian corridor had been reopened in the enclave despite the declared peace.
In his final speech to the United Nations before he leaves office next year, Macron reiterated his defense of a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, saying the world was witnessing a spectacle that should shame everyone, criticizing Trump's portrayal of his Gaza peace plan as a diplomatic triumph.
He spoke at the United Nations General Assembly hours after Trump, from the same podium, had hailed his Gaza peace plan as a diplomatic triumph.
"A year ago, here in this hall, about a dozen states had recognized Palestine. I hear the cynicism of some people: 'Recognition is just a piece of paper, look at the reality,'" Macron said, pounding his fist on the podium.
"But what credibility do we have if we continue to remain inactive in the face of Gaza? Some boast of a supposed peace. But this peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second. Should we simply stand idly by and watch this spectacle that should shame us all?" said the French president, stressing that building a two-state solution is a prerequisite for "the security of today and tomorrow for Israel and its people . "
In response to Macron’s criticism, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “ President Trump ended the war between Israel and Hamas, released all live hostages, returned the bodies of the deceased to their loved ones, and is now leading the implementation of the 20-Point Peace Plan in Gaza. While others talk, this President has taken on this complex problem head-on. No one has done more for peace and stability in the region.”
Macron has faced criticism from some politicians and activists in France that he has done little since recognizing a Palestinian state last September.
Despite the criticism, Paris has toughened its stance on settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, imposing several national sanctions and launching a process to ban products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.