French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine, citing the urgent need to end the war in Gaza and address the worsening
humanitarian crisis. The decision, Macron said, will be officially presented at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” Macron wrote on social media platform X, adding, “Peace is possible.”
France will become the most influential European country to take this step. According to AFP, 142 countries have now recognized Palestinian statehood. However, Israel and the United States remain firmly opposed to such recognition.
Macron’s announcement signals a major shift in France’s policy. While he initially expressed strong support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and regularly denounces antisemitism, Macron has become increasingly critical of Israel’s prolonged military operations in Gaza.
In a letter shared publicly, Macron informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of France’s decision, framing it as part of France’s historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The announcement follows a series of diplomatic setbacks in the region. Just days earlier, the United States ended ceasefire talks in Qatar, accusing Hamas of negotiating in bad faith. Meanwhile, international criticism of Israel has intensified, especially over restrictions on humanitarian aid and the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians attempting to access food.
France, home to both Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim populations, has often experienced domestic tensions linked to Middle East conflicts. Macron’s government is also co-hosting a UN conference next week focused on reviving the two-state solution framework.
The Palestinians seek statehood in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and east Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel has since annexed east Jerusalem and expanded settlements across the West Bank, housing more than 500,000 Israeli citizens there. Meanwhile, around 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military rule, with limited self-governance in certain areas.
Israel’s government remains opposed to Palestinian statehood, arguing that recognition would reward Hamas following its October 2023 attacks.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on France’s decision. Photo by Jacques Paquier, Wikimedia commons.