France’s Macron says the suffering in Gaza should ‘shame all of us’ as Canada’s Carney pledges $71m for two-state efforts.<\/p>\n
Published On 23 Sep 202623 Sep 2026<\/p>\n
France, Canada and the United Kingdom have expressed support for a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), 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 \u201cceasefire\u201d 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 \u201cceasefire\u201d took effect.<\/p>\n
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In his speech to the UNGA, Macron noted that France had been among a dozen countries that recognised 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 in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll those who claim that Israel\u2019s security depends on violating the sovereignty of all its neighbours 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 Al Saud, also chaired a meeting at the UNGA on Palestinian 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
\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,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if we fail to back those words with deeds, we will further corrode trust in the political, diplomatic and international process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burnham added the UK has also banned trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, describing Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project<\/a> 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 Carney meanwhile announced that Canada would give 100 million Canadian dollars ($71m) in aid to Palestinians to preserve \u201cthe possibility of a two-state solution\u201d.<\/p>\n He said 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 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 criticised Israel\u2019s E1 settlement project<\/a>\u00a0and said Canada intended to introduce restrictions on goods produced in settlements in the occupied territory.<\/p>\n