Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

However, the trickle of aid entering the strip under the control of a new, shadowy NGO backed by Israel and the United States has been accompanied by intensive bombardment and the shooting of Palestinians desperately trying to reach aid distribution points.In his comments, Macron called for an end to assumptions that Israel is respecting human rights.

“But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response,” he added.The French leader also stressed that recognition of a Palestinian state is “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity,” although he added that its establishment would need to come under specific conditions.His remarks followed a joint statement earlier in the week with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto condemning any Israeli plans to seize control of Gaza or expel its population.

Paris is hoping to rally momentum for a conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood, which would require, among other things, the demilitarisation of Hamas.French officials are weighing up the move before a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting between June 17-20, to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel’s security.

However, some diplomats and experts suggest that such moves would infuriate Israel and deepen Western splits.

Despite some aid starting to trickle into Gaza after the Israeli blockade, the humanitarian crisis remains dire. Experts warn that one in five people faces imminent starvation., not least for Israel’s decision to bypass traditional aid distribution networks, like those run by the United Nations.

Instead, it tapped theGaza Humanitarian Foundation

(GHF), a United States-backed nonprofit, to lead the effort.“There were a lot of questions raised, even within the Israeli government, about how exactly this was going to operate,” said Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan.