The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, welcomed France's announcement to recognize the State of Palestine in a statement released today.

Addis Ababa.- The statement aligns with the AU’s long-standing position, reaffirmed during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government held last February, which reiterated the continent’s collective commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and statehood.

Youssouf, the statement emphasized, considers this event an important step toward a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.

He reiterated the African Union’s unwavering support for the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, and encouraged other nations to follow suit and support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24 that he would announce his decision to recognize the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, which he considered a step toward peace.

Macron has been raising the issue of Palestinian recognition for several months now, amid a backdrop marked by Israel's aggression against the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, unleashing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the densely populated enclave.

In his view, creating a viable Palestinian state requires demilitarizing Hamas, guaranteeing the security and reconstruction of Gaza, and ensuring full recognition of Israel. (PL)