Recognition Of Palestinian State Would Be “A Gift To Hamas” – President Trump
Recognition Of Palestinian State Would Be “A Gift To Hamas” – President Trump
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The United States President, Donald Trump, has flatly rejected calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state, describing the move as a “reward” for Hamas, the militant group at the centre of the Gaza war.
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
While France recently joined the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal in officially recognising a Palestinian state, Trump said doing so dishonours victims of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
“Well, I think it honours Hamas, and you can’t do that because of October 7. You can’t do that. But we want our hostages back,” Trump said, adding that the recognition would amount to “a gift” to the group.
“You always have to remember, people forget October 7 was one of the most savage days in the history of the world,” the US president said.
The Gaza war, which began with Hamas’ October 2023 assault on southern Israel, has since escalated into a full-blown conflict, with thousands of Palestinians killed in Israeli retaliatory bombings and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Macron, however, pushed back at Trump’s position, insisting that acknowledging a Palestinian state is not the same as endorsing Hamas.
“Recognising a Palestinian state does not mean ignoring Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel,” the French leader said.
Trump, who opened the meeting by praising Macron’s diplomatic engagements, claimed the French president had helped him prevent global wars.
“Emmanuel has actually helped me with a couple of the wars,” Trump said, referring to Macron’s recent suggestion that Trump could earn a Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeded in ending the Gaza conflict.
