France\u2019s Macron says the suffering in Gaza should \u2018shame all of us\u2019 as Canada\u2019s Carney pledges $71m for two-state efforts.<\/p>\n
France, Canada and the United Kingdom have expressed support for a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning Israel\u2019s restrictions on aid to Gaza as a \u201cshame\u201d for the world.<\/p>\n
Macron\u2019s impassioned address on Tuesday came as Israeli forces killed at least three Palestinians in Gaza City, despite a cease-fire brokered by the United States in October. More than 73,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel\u2019s genocidal war began in October 2023, including 1,399 since the cease-fire took effect.<\/p>\n
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In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Macron noted that France had been among a dozen countries that recognized a Palestinian state a year ago. But he asked, \u201cwhat credibility do we have if we continue to remain inactive in the face of Gaza?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome boast of a supposed peace, but this peace hasn\u2019t reopened humanitarian routes for a single second,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMust we stand by and watch this spectacle that shames us all? Never!\u201d<\/p>\n
Macron also criticised what he called Israel\u2019s daily \u201cviolations\u201d actions in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll those who claim that Israel\u2019s security depends on violating the sovereignty of all its neighbors are making a fatal mistake, weakening Israel\u2019s security for today and tomorrow, and threatening it,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
Macron, along with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also chaired a meeting at the UN General Assembly on\u00a0Palestinian statehood.<\/p>\n
Burnham told delegates from dozens of countries that failure to deliver a two-state solution will \u201ccorrode trust\u201d in politicians who have talked about the issue but not taken action.<\/p>\n
He said the UK has also banned trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, describing\u00a0Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project<\/a>\u00a0 as \u201ca deliberate attempt to block a two-state solution\u201d. The project would bisect the occupied West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, fragmenting the land Palestinians hope will form the heart of a future state.<\/p>\n Burnham added, \u201cWe all live in an era of low trust in politics. Many people in this room, many politicians around the world, have spoken for decades about a two-state solution. But if we fail to back those words with deeds, we will further corrode trust in the political, diplomatic and international process.\u201d<\/p>\n Carney meanwhile announced that\u00a0 Canada would give 100 million Canadian dollars ($71m), in aid to Palestinians to preserve \u201cthe possibility of a two-state solution\u201d. He said that 80 percent of the funding will go towards direct humanitarian aid, while the remaining 20 percent will be allocated to \u201csupport peace and security\u201d, including Canada\u2019s multiyear initiative to train Palestinian police in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n Carney prefaced the pledge by noting that Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure \u201cimmense human suffering\u201d, while Israelis confront \u201cexistential threats from Hamas and from Iran and its proxies\u201d.<\/p>\n Carney said Palestinians in Gaza continued to endure \u201cimmense human suffering,\u201d while Israelis faced \u201cexistential threats from Hamas and from Iran and its proxies.\u201d He also criticized Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project and said Canada intended to introduce restrictions on goods produced in settlements. Canada is among 12 countries that have announced such trade restrictions.<\/p>\n He also criticised Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project,<\/a> with the \u201cintention to bring forward trade restrictions targeting goods produced in those illegal Israeli settlements\u201d.<\/p>\n