France is "determined" to recognize a Palestinian state but will not do so alone, suggested French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, just days before a conference organized at the U.N. on this issue.
When asked by RTL whether France, which will co-chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in New York, would recognize a Palestinian state, Mr. Barrot reaffirmed: "We are determined to do so."
The goal, he said, is "to bring with us a number of countries, and also bring in all stakeholders, particularly the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries."
However, he emphasized that France would not unilaterally make such a recognition official.
"France could have made a symbolic decision. That is not the choice we made because we have a special responsibility; it's France, a permanent member of the Security Council," said the minister.
"If we do it, it's to change things and ensure that the existence of this Palestinian state becomes more credible, more possible," he added.
He also reiterated the "absolute necessity," according to Paris, "to address the issue of Hamas disarmament" for the future of Gaza.
The international conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, which aims to revive a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict known as the "two-state" solution, will be held from June 17 to 20.
Barrot also criticized "a militarized system of distribution" of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which has been starved by a blockade of over two months imposed by Israel, only partially eased in recent days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized a limited amount of humanitarian aid via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the United States and Israel, which said Thursday it had resumed its food distributions.
"The result is chaos. This distribution system has sparked riots and deadly violence," said Barrot.
Israel faces growing international pressure to end the war ravaging Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 Israelis, mostly civilians.
