With Gaza facing unprecedented devastation, Macron’s move offers a rare glimmer of hope and a moral call for others to act
Gaza is a catastrophe unfolding on a daily basis. Though a lot has happened in the tumultuous history of Palestine but the last year has been worse — death, destruction and misery all around. The old people, women and children equally bearing the brunt of the Israeli shelling of Gaza while the world watches it as a mute spectator. It would not be wrong to say that world has failed the people of Palestine. Their cry for help goes unheard, their misery remains invisible. The Western world which could have made the difference remains unmoved and unshaken, overlooking the human rights abuse on massive scale. but now that might change.
In a bold departure from the Western stance, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced France’s intention to formally recognise Palestine at the United Nations in September. This could be a big move if followed in right earnest by others. At a time when Gaza lies in ruins—its hospitals bombed, homes flattened, and nearly 40,000 lives lost in less than a year—Macron’s move could be a step towards realising the long forgotten two-state solution. Today, more than 80 per cent of Gaza population is displaced, surviving on humanitarian aid that is also difficult to reach. Children are starving, families live in rubble, and the siege shows no signs of relenting.
The two-state solution is a long standing proposal to resolve the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians by creating two independent states—Israel and Palestine—living side by side. The idea envisions a sovereign Palestinian state alongside the existing state of Israel, allowing both peoples to exercise self-determination and end decades of violence and occupation. This concept first emerged in the early 20th century during the British Mandate of Palestine. It gained formal international backing with the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan (Resolution 181), which recommended splitting Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.
Ironically at that time, while Jewish leaders accepted the plan, Arab leaders rejected it, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and subsequent Israeli aggression in Palestine. Since then, the two-state solution has been the foundation of most peace efforts, including the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, which set a framework for negotiations. Despite the fact that two-state solution remains only on paper but it is perhaps the only solution which is just and sustainable way to achieve lasting peace in the region. Macron’s decision sends a strong message: peace cannot be held hostage by political inertia or the veto power. France joins over 140 countries—including India, Ireland, and Spain—in acknowledging the Palestinian right to self-determination.
This is not about taking sides—it’s about restoring balance, dignity, and international law. Recognition is not the solution, but it is a first step towards resuming meaningful dialogue. The world must follow France’s lead, not out of ideology, but out of conscience. The two-state solution—ensuring a secure Israel and a safe Palestine—is the only just and sustainable path forward. In Macron’s move, there is not just policy. There is courage. And in Gaza, what remains of hope depends on the world finally acting on both.
