A significant majority of French citizens, 71%, oppose the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, according to a report by Crif. The findings emerged as French President Emmanuel Macron stated that ten countries plan to recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Of those opposing immediate recognition, 38% would only accept it after the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas, the Crif report indicates. This sentiment among the French public comes as international attention remains focused on the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations reported on September 20th, 2025, that Hamas operatives fired upon UN vehicles, seized equipment, and blocked a humanitarian aid route between 8:08 PM and 8:37 PM UTC. The UN report to the IDF detailed that Hamas terrorists targeted UN workers engaged in paving a route for humanitarian aid trucks, subsequently taking control of vehicles and obstructing the prepared axis. This action directly hindered the flow of aid. In parallel, the IDF reported tank fire towards al-Kish Square in Gaza City's Sheikh Sajeline neighborhood between 6:38 PM and 8:07 PM UTC on the same day, with video evidence of the tank fire published during that period. These developments in Gaza occur amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions between Israel and Egypt regarding alleged Egyptian military expansion in the Sinai Peninsula, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims violate the 1979 Peace Agreement. Netanyahu had previously presented details of these alleged breaches to U.S. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio on September 15th, 2025.
