France has called on the European Union to take concrete steps to pressure Israel into committing to a two-state solution, amid ongoing international efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza and recognise Palestinian statehood.

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Speaking at the opening session of a high-level United Nations meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged the European Commission to play a more assertive role in advancing a political resolution to the crisis. The event, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, focused on reviving negotiations toward a two-state solution.

“The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has to express its expectations and show the means that we can incentivise the Israeli government to hear this appeal,” Barrot stated.

Barrot called on the EU to pressure Israel to lift a financial blockade involving 2 billion euros allegedly owed to the Palestinian Authority. He also demanded a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, warning that such activity undermines the territorial viability of a future Palestinian state.

Reaffirming France’s intention to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, Barrot framed the move as part of a broader effort to uphold Palestinian rights and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “With this decision, France reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, faced with the reality on the ground, the humanitarian catastrophe that is plunging an entire people into despair, and the existential threat,” he said.

Barrot emphasised that only a political solution can meet the legitimate aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and security.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan echoed this position, highlighting the critical role of the United States in any potential resolution. “I am firmly in the belief that Trump’s engagement can be a catalyst for an end to the immediate crisis in Gaza and potentially a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the long term,” he said.

In a notable shift, US President Donald Trump on Monday acknowledged that “real starvation” is taking place in Gaza—marking a rare divergence from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has consistently denied such conditions.

As France and Saudi Arabia push for renewed diplomatic efforts at the UN, their appeals reflect growing international frustration with the prolonged humanitarian crisis and lack of political progress in the region. The coming months may prove critical, as global actors weigh recognition of Palestinian statehood and pressure mounts for meaningful change on the ground.

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