US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directly blamed French President Emmanuel Macron for the collapse of Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations, claiming the talks “fell apart on the day Macron made the unilateral decision” to recognize Palestinian statehood. The explosive accusation marks a rare public diplomatic rebuke between key Western allies over Middle East policy.
Speaking to the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network, Rubio argued that Macron’s July 24 announcement effectively emboldened Hamas to reject peace negotiations. “If I’m Hamas, I basically conclude: ‘Let’s not do a ceasefire… because we can be rewarded, we can claim it as a victory,'” the Secretary of State explained.
France Breaks with Western Consensus
Macron’s decision to formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September represents a significant diplomatic shift, making France the first G7 nation and major Israeli ally to take such a step. The French president framed the move as essential for achieving peace, stating it would help “build the State of Palestine” and “contribute to the security of all in the Middle East”.
The timing proved particularly contentious. Israel withdrew from the Doha ceasefire talks on the same day as Macron’s announcement, with Israeli officials citing Hamas’s latest response as evidence of the group’s unwillingness to negotiate in good faith. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not “acting in good faith” and announced American negotiators were returning home.
Ripple Effect Across Europe
Rubio’s criticism extends beyond France, as several other nations followed suit with similar pledges. The UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Spain have all indicated they may recognize Palestinian statehood if Israel fails to reach a ceasefire by September. This coordinated European pressure campaign has drawn sharp criticism from both Washington and Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France’s move as a “grave mistake” that “rewards terror,” while warning it risks creating “another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became”. President Trump himself dismissed Macron’s announcement, telling reporters at the White House that “what he says doesn’t matter” and “that statement doesn’t carry weight”.
The diplomatic fallout underscores the growing transatlantic divide over Middle East policy, with European nations increasingly willing to pressure Israel through unilateral recognition while the US maintains its traditional approach of opposing such moves as premature and counterproductive to peace negotiations.
