Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron after he decided to officially recognize the state of Palestine.
Netanyahu described the recognition of Palestine as a reward for violence and that the move risks creating a new Iranian proxy like in Gaza, thus threatening Israel's security.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also called Macron's statement absurd, claiming that Palestine would be controlled by Hamas and that Macron would not be able to guarantee Israel's security.
According to the AFP news agency, at least 142 countries have proposed recognizing the establishment of a Palestinian state, although the effort is opposed by Israel and the United States (US).
Several countries began expressing their desire to recognize Palestine after Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza in 2023 in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas fighters.
Hamas also welcomed Macron's statement and described it as a step towards justice for the Palestinian people and support for the right to self-determination.
