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France, the United Kingdom and Canada have voiced support for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly, while criticising Israel’s actions in Gaza and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the UNGA on Tuesday, condemned restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, saying the situation should be a source of shame for the international community.
Macron said France was among the countries that recognised a Palestinian state a year ago and questioned the credibility of the international community if it remained inactive over the situation in Gaza.
He also criticised what he described as Israel’s “violations” in the occupied West Bank, warning that security based on violating the sovereignty of neighbouring countries would ultimately weaken Israel’s security.
Macron, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud also co-chaired a UNGA meeting on Palestinian statehood.
Burnham said failure to deliver a two-state solution would further erode public trust in politicians who have spoken about the issue for decades without matching their words with action.
He said the UK had banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and described Israel’s E1 settlement project as an attempt to obstruct a two-state solution. The project could divide the occupied West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, according to the Al Jazeera report.
Carney, meanwhile, announced C$100 million ($71 million) in assistance for Palestinians. Eighty percent of the funding will go directly to humanitarian aid, while the remaining 20% will support peace and security initiatives, including Canada’s multiyear programme to train Palestinian police in the occupied West Bank.
Carney said Palestinians in Gaza were enduring immense humanitarian suffering, while Israelis were facing what he described as existential threats from Hamas, Iran and its allies.
He also criticised the E1 settlement project and said Canada planned to introduce trade restrictions targeting goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Canada has pledged more than C$600 million ($426 million) in assistance for Palestinian civilians since Israel began its war in Gaza in October 2023, according to Al Jazeera.