Qatar has hailed France’s intention to recognise Palestine as a “positive and constructive” move.

Qatar on Friday welcomed President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France would recognise the state of Palestine.

In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry affirmed it as “a significant step in support of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights and a reflection of international consensus on ending occupation.”

Qatar, a key mediator in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, described the decision as “a positive development aligned with international legitimacy and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, contributing to prospects of achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region.”

Doha also reiterated its call for all other countries that have not yet recognised the state of Palestine to take similar steps.

The statement comes as Macron announced on Thursday that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.

“In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on X on Thursday.

France joins fellow European Union members Spain, Ireland and Norway in beginning the process of recognising a Palestinian state.

However, the announcement drew immediate anger from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “strongly condemning” the French leader’s decision.

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump dismissed the decision as “pointless”, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the decision as a “victory for the Palestinian cause.”

“This reflects France’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to their land and their homeland,” the president of the Palestinian Authority said on Friday.

France’s announcement comes on the backdrop of Israel’s continued onslaught, which has killed at least 61,700 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, although the figure does not include thousands trapped under the rubble. It was also one of the 25 nations that filed a joint statement calling for an end to the genocidal war in Gaza, which Israel eventually dismissed.

Israel’s refusal to allow aid since March and deliberate targeting of aid seekers, in addition to its continuing onslaught, has plunged the besieged enclave into a famine.

“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population,” Macron added.