Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron received Thursday his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is now visiting Paris. During a joint press conference, the Brazilian president stressed that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide perpetrated by a highly equipped army against women and children, and it is no longer acceptable.

According to Qatar News Agency, the French president said that the coming days will be decisive in ending the war. He continued that they would intensify pressure, in coordination with the United States, to achieve a ceasefire.

A conference on the two-state solution is scheduled to be held in New York later this month, and Macron said he expected the conference to take steps toward recognizing Palestine, without providing further details. He expressed hope that France’s recognition of a Palestinian state would encourage other governments to follow suit.