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Gulf countries welcome France recognition of Palestinian state

French President Emmanuel Macron waves as he arrives with a helicopter for talks with the German chancellor at Villa Borsig, guesthouse of the German Foreign Ministry, in Berlin on July 23, 2025. [AFP]

Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf Arab states on Friday welcomed President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognise the state of Palestine, and urged other countries to follow suit.

Other European Union members have recognised Palestine since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023 but France is the first member of the G7 group of major advanced economies to do so.

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