France Urges EU to Pressure Israel for Two-State Solution Amid Ongoing Crisis
On July 29, 2025, during a high-level United Nations meeting, France called on the European Union to intensify its pressure on Israel to pursue a two-state solution in light of the persistent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the demand for recognition of Palestinian statehood, reports 24brussels.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot highlighted the necessity for the European Commission to adopt a more decisive approach in facilitating a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The session was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and aimed at reviving negotiations towards a two-state solution.
Barrot stated, “The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has to express its expectations and show the means that we can incentivise the Israeli government to hear this appeal.” He specifically referenced the importance of lifting a financial blockade that allegedly amounts to 2 billion euros owed to the Palestinian Authority and called for an immediate halt to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Reiterating France’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, Barrot positioned this move as part of a larger commitment to uphold Palestinian rights amidst the ongoing humanitarian disaster affecting Gaza. He noted, “With this decision, France reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, faced with the reality on the ground, the humanitarian catastrophe that is plunging an entire people into despair, and the existential threat.”
Barrot emphasized that a sustainable political solution is essential for both Palestinians and Israelis to achieve peace and security. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan supported this sentiment, underscoring the key role of the United States in facilitating a resolution. “I firmly believe that Trump’s engagement can be a catalyst for an end to the immediate crisis in Gaza and potentially a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the long term,” he remarked.
In a significant shift, US President Donald Trump recently acknowledged the occurrence of severe starvation conditions in Gaza, marking a rare divergence from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s consistent denial of such crises. This emerging dialogue is reflective of heightened international frustrations surrounding the ongoing humanitarian plight and the stalling of political negotiations in the region.
As France and Saudi Arabia advocate for renewed diplomatic efforts at the UN, their initiatives illustrate the increasing urgency for global actors to consider recognition of Palestinian statehood and to apply constructive pressure for a meaningful resolution to the longstanding conflict.
