Palestinian Ambassador to France Urges International Action Despite Worsening Security Crisis

Palestinian ambassador to France, Hala Abou Hassira, stated in an interview with The National that the recognition of Palestinian statehood by 11 western nations a year ago must not be "trivialised," despite the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions on the ground.

Speaking just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron defended his diplomatic legacy regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict during his final address to the UN General Assembly, Ms Abou Hassira emphasized that "more needs to be done" to pressure Israel into ending its occupation of Palestinian territory and resuming peace negotiations.

"We must not downplay the recognition granted by France and the 11 countries that followed suit—led by major G7 nations such as Britain, Canada and Australia, nor should we trivialise it," Ms Abou Hassira stated on Wednesday.

President Macron's speech, in which he criticized Israel for utilizing Hamas as a pretext to violate international law in the occupied West Bank, sparked strong Israeli backlash. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the remarks as a "grotesque absurdity.">

"I hear the cynicism of some—'recognition on paper; look at reality'. But what credibility do we have if we continue to remain inactive regarding Gaza?" Mr Macron asked during his address. "Look at what is happening in the West Bank, where violations occur every day—in the name of what? Hamas has never operated in the West Bank.">

In response, Mr Netanyahu posted on X: "On Sunday, the eve of Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Shukrun—a French citizen and father of six—was murdered in his car by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria. Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria.">

Israeli forces subsequently raided the hometown of the Palestinian man suspected of the shooting. The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the death of Mr Shukrun—a settler living in an outpost in the West Bank considered illegal under international law—labeling the incident a "terrorist attack" while not officially confirming his French citizenship.

At the UN General Assembly, Jordan's King Abdullah II also characterized the situation in the West Bank as "extraordinarily dangerous" and criticized the international community's lack of will to sanction Israel for violating international law. The Israeli Foreign Ministry countered by stating that Jordan had violated international law in 1988 by revoking the citizenship of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, for the second consecutive year, the US declined to issue visas to the Palestinian leadership to attend the General Assembly in New York. Washington cited the Palestinian Authority's failure to implement required reforms.

Ms Abou Hassira argued that while international speeches often provide a correct diagnosis of the Palestinian situation, they reflect a continuous "abandonment of Palestinian people" in the face of military occupation and settler violence in the West Bank, which she claims is "consistently backed, encouraged and protected by the Israeli occupation army and Israeli government.">

According to UN figures, approximately 50 Israeli civilians and military personnel have been killed in the West Bank since 2023, alongside more than 1,100 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army or settlers. Ms Abou Hassira interpreted President Macron's comments on Hamas as an attempt to highlight how Israel uses the militant group as an excuse for systematic policies toward Palestinians.

French-Israeli relations have experienced strain following the recognition of Palestinian statehood, with President Macron frequently facing accusations of anti-Semitism from Israeli politicians, allegations that he firmly denies. Although France recently joined the UK in banning trade with illegal settlements, Paris has avoided the harsher rhetoric used by British officials.

Concluding her remarks, Ms Abou Hassira urged that nations must go further by imposing political, economic, and arms-related sanctions on Israel until the state complies with international law and fulfills its legal obligations.