Meloni stresses hostage release, Hamas exclusion in Palestinian state debate

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday that she is not opposed to the recognition of a Palestinian state, but only under two conditions: the release of hostages held by Hamas and the exclusion of the Islamist movement from any future Palestinian government.

“I am not opposed to the recognition of Palestine, but we must establish priorities,” Meloni told Italian media in New York, where she is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

According to her remarks broadcast in Italy, the ruling majority will present a motion stating that recognition of Palestine should be tied to those two conditions. 

“Personally, I continue to believe that recognizing Palestine without a state that actually has the attributes of sovereignty neither solves the problem nor produces tangible results for Palestinians,” she added.

Her statement comes just a day after France and several other countries formally recognized the State of Palestine from the UN podium, in what analysts widely see as a symbolic move with limited immediate impact.

French President Emmanuel Macron was at the forefront of this diplomatic campaign, pressing as many states as possible to join the initiative. 

But critics argue the effort has less to do with advancing peace in the Middle East and more to do with reviving Macron’s fading political stature at home.

With his approval ratings at historic lows, Macron appears to be seizing Palestine as a new cause—an act some view as diplomatic marketing rather than genuine strategy. 

While the recognition makes headlines, it does not address fundamental issues such as governance, security, or Hamas’s role, leaving many to question whether this is anything more than symbolism designed to polish a tarnished presidency.