France, Canada, and the United Kingdom expressed support for a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israel’s restrictions on aid to Gaza, stating that the suffering in Gaza should 'shame all of us.' His remarks followed reports of Israeli forces killing at least three Palestinians in Gaza City, despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States in October. Since the onset of the conflict in October 2023, over 73,900 people have been reported killed in Gaza, including 1,399 since the ceasefire began.
In his speech, Macron emphasized that France had recognized a Palestinian state a year ago and questioned the credibility of nations remaining inactive in the face of the situation in Gaza. He stated, 'Some boast of a supposed peace, but this peace hasn’t reopened humanitarian routes for a single second.' He also criticized Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank, warning that claims of Israel’s security being dependent on violating the sovereignty of neighboring territories were misguided.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, alongside Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, chaired a meeting at the UNGA focused on Palestinian statehood. Burnham remarked that failing to deliver a two-state solution would erode trust in politicians who have discussed the issue without taking action. He noted that the UK has banned trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, referring to Israel’s E1 settlement project as a deliberate attempt to obstruct a two-state solution.
Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada would provide 100 million Canadian dollars (approximately $71 million) in aid to Palestinians, with 80 percent allocated for direct humanitarian assistance and 20 percent for peace and security initiatives, including training for Palestinian police in the West Bank. He highlighted the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and acknowledged the threats faced by Israelis from Hamas and Iran. Carney also mentioned that Canada, among 12 countries, intends to impose trade restrictions on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Since the beginning of the conflict, Canada has pledged over 600 million Canadian dollars (about $426 million) in aid for Palestinian civilians.