Germany Steps In as E3 Leaders Demand Gaza Ceasefire, Humanitarian Access, and Two-State Solution

The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have issued a joint declaration calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urgent humanitarian access to the civilian population. 

The statement emphasizes that the time has come to end the war and urges all parties to negotiate a ceasefire that would allow for the return of hostages, alleviate the suffering of civilians, and lay the groundwork for future stability in the region.

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The E3 leaders demand the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, and stress that the disarmament of Hamas is imperative. 

They also assert that Hamas must have no role in the future governance of Gaza. The declaration reaffirms support for the diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, and calls on the Israeli government to lift restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid. 

Highlighting the worsening humanitarian conditions, the leaders note that essential needs such as water, food, and medical supplies must be met without delay, and that the withholding of aid is unacceptable.

The statement also opposes any efforts to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including through annexation, settlement expansion, or acts of settler violence. 

These actions, the leaders argue, undermine the viability of a two-state solution and the broader goal of a negotiated peace. 

The E3 call for the development of a credible international plan for Gaza’s next phase, including transitional governance, large-scale humanitarian aid delivery, and security arrangements. 

This plan, they state, must include the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the removal of Hamas leadership as key steps toward a sustainable two-state solution.

The declaration comes shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state. This move makes France the first G7 nation to do so and signals a significant shift in Western positioning on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Macron has framed the decision as both a diplomatic necessity and a moral imperative, stating that the two-state solution is the only viable path forward and must be pursued with urgency. 

In a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron said the future of the Middle East cannot be left to drift toward permanent conflict and suffering.

France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood carries symbolic weight, especially as it joins China and Russia as the only permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to take this step. 

The United States and the United Kingdom now find themselves in a minority position on the issue within the Council. 

While Macron’s decision is unlikely to result in immediate changes on the ground in Gaza or the West Bank, it is expected to influence global diplomatic dynamics and may put pressure on other major powers to reassess their stance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France’s move, warning that it rewards terrorism and risks creating another hostile proxy on Israel’s borders. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza but has stopped short of endorsing immediate recognition, stating that statehood should follow a ceasefire and be part of a broader peace process. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the French decision outright, saying it would not alter the situation.

Analysts view France’s recognition as a potentially influential act, even if its immediate impact is limited. 

With more than 140 countries already recognizing Palestine, France’s decision adds weight to the push for statehood and reflects a growing frustration among some Western powers over the prolonged conflict and lack of diplomatic progress. 

The move may prompt renewed debate in European and international circles about the path forward for Israeli-Palestinian peace.