The French president, expressing a moral obligation to address suffering in Gaza, made clear he had lost patience with the United States and Israel. The question is what effect he will have.

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister, will formally present his country’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the rescheduled French-Saudi conference in New York on July 28th. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza continues unabated. ■

France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, President Emmanuel Macron has said. In a post on X, Macron said the formal announcement would be made at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.