Two takeaways The surprise announcement tells us two things. Firstly, that Macron feels this is the time to act. Leaders from France, the UK and Germany are due to speak Friday to seek urgent action over the new lows of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

France has announced it will recognize the state of Palestine, a move that could shift discussions about the Middle East's future.

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.