French president uses final UNGA address to criticise the Gaza situation, defend recognition of Palestine and warn against a return to ‘law of the jungle’
New York, September 2026 : French President Emmanuel Macron challenged US President Donald Trump’s claims of having secured peace in Gaza, saying that the humanitarian situation in the enclave remained unresolved and that diplomatic declarations must be matched by concrete action.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Macron delivered what was expected to be his final address to the world body before leaving office next year. His remarks came only hours after Trump used the same podium to present his Gaza peace initiative as a major diplomatic achievement.
Macron questioned whether the announcement of peace could be considered meaningful while humanitarian access remained restricted. Referring to international criticism of the recognition of Palestine, he said that some had dismissed recognition as merely symbolic and argued that its significance should instead be assessed alongside the situation on the ground.
The French president said the international community could not remain inactive while civilians in Gaza continued to face a humanitarian crisis. He also questioned whether the world should simply watch developments unfold without taking further action.
The White House rejected Macron’s criticism. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump had ended the war between Israel and Hamas, secured the release of all living hostages and facilitated the return of the remains of deceased hostages to their families. She added that Trump was leading implementation of a 20-point peace plan for Gaza and argued that his administration had taken direct action on the conflict.
Macron has faced criticism in France from some politicians and activists over his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including questions over what concrete steps followed France’s recognition of a Palestinian state last year.
France has nevertheless adopted a tougher position on Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Paris has imposed national sanctions in response to settler violence and has also begun a process aimed at restricting products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied territory.
In his UN address, Macron highlighted the situation in the West Bank, arguing that developments there could further undermine prospects for a viable Palestinian state. He pointed out that Hamas had not operated in the West Bank, while warning that continued settlement expansion and violence were making a future political settlement increasingly difficult.
Relations between France and Israel have become increasingly strained over the past year. Macron said arguments that violating the sovereignty of neighbouring countries would improve Israel’s security were misguided, warning that such actions could instead undermine Israel’s security both in the present and the long term.
The French leader also used his final UN appearance to defend multilateralism and the role of the United Nations at a time of growing geopolitical tensions.
With France’s next presidential election scheduled for 2027, Macron reflected on his years of international diplomacy and reiterated his support for a rules-based international system. He warned against what he described as a global return to the “law of the jungle”, arguing that nations faced a choice between a world governed by power and coercion and one based on international cooperation and rules.
Macron said the international community should not accept what he described as a new order of impunity. He called on countries to stand behind the United Nations and preserve multilateral institutions despite their shortcomings.
Concluding his address, Macron reaffirmed his commitment to the organisation and its principles, ending with a declaration of support for the global body: “Long live the United Nations.”
His speech underscored the widening differences among Western allies over the Gaza conflict, the future of Palestinian statehood and the role of international institutions in addressing the crisis.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
