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French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron on Sunday defended his country's decision to recognize the state of Palestine amid the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
In an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Macron told host Margaret Brennan that France wants "peace and security" for the region.
"If we want peace and security for everyone in the region, we must maintain a state of political perspective for everyone," Macron said.
He added that "recognizing the Palestinian state today is the only way to offer a political solution to a situation that must be stopped."
While 147 of the 193 countries at the United Nations recognize the state of Palestine, France was ahead of other nations in the Western Alliance in offering recognition. Over the weekend, Canada, Britain and Australia added other countries to that list.
The US has maintained its support for Israel even as the latter has called for a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza. Trump has repeatedly called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said France's decision was "reckless." Macron called the criticism "excessive."
"Hamas is simply obsessed with the destruction of Israel, but I recognize the legitimacy of so many Palestinians who want a state, who are one people," Macron said.
Macron said he does not think France's decision has damaged the country's relationship with the US, adding that his goal is to engage with the administration on what France has in mind for a "complete plan of peace and security for all."
But simply killing as many Hamas members as possible cannot be the only solution, Macron said.
“At the beginning of this war, we had more or less 25,000 Hamas fighters,” Macron said, adding, “the Israeli army killed maybe half of them, but Hamas managed to recruit their equivalent. You have the same number of fighters.”
The French recognition is part of a three-pronged plan. The second phase is a ceasefire with the release of all hostages. The third, he said, is the prospect of two states, Palestine and Israel.
"Recognizing this right to have a Palestinian state through a diplomatic channel is simply giving another channel and offering a political path and isolating Hamas," Macron said.
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