France will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron has announced, in a dramatic shift that has drawn sharp rebukes from Israel and the United States but won praise from Palestinian officials.
Posting the decision on social media platform X on Thursday, Macron said the move reflects France’s “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” In a letter to Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, Macron confirmed Paris’s intention to recognise Palestine and to lobby allies to follow suit.
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“I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” he wrote. “I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”
The announcement positions France as the first G7 country – and the most influential Western state – to formally back Palestinian statehood in decades, signalling a major diplomatic pivot likely to reshape the global conversation around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Macron’s move comes amid renewed international pressure to find a political solution to the crisis, as Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza continues to draw global condemnation. But while Palestinian leaders welcomed France’s recognition as a step toward self-determination, both Israel and the United States reacted angrily.
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Israeli, U.S. leaders lash out
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister condemned Macron’s declaration as “a reward for terror,” accusing France of emboldening Hamas and undermining Israel’s security.
“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it,” Netanyahu posted on X. “Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
Israel Katz , Israeli defence minister described France’s move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” vowing that Israel would block any Palestinian entity that threatens its existence.
In Washington, Marco Rubio U.S. secretary of state echoed those concerns, calling France’s decision “reckless” and a blow to peace efforts.
“This only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,” Rubio said on X. “It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
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The U.S. confirmed it would boycott next week’s UN conference on the two-state solution – co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia – with state department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott saying simply, “Washington will not be in attendance.”
Gaza war casts long shadow
The row comes amid intensifying scrutiny of Israel’s prolonged war in Gaza, launched after the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,139 people and led to the abduction of over 200 Israelis and foreign nationals.
In the 21 months since, Israel’s offensive has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians and injured more than 144,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Civilian infrastructure has been decimated, and humanitarian access severely restricted.
International frustration is growing. On Monday, 28 nations — including the United Kingdom, Japan, and key European allies — signed a joint statement demanding Israel end its military operations.
The statement condemned “the inhumane killing of civilians, including children,” and denounced the “drip feeding of aid” to desperate Gazans. Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney has also accused Israel of violating international law by blocking aid to civilians, while urging Hamas to release all hostages and Israel to respect the territorial integrity of Gaza and the West Bank.
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Macron’s announcement is also a direct response to months of diplomatic deadlock and faltering ceasefire negotiations, with efforts brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States failing to achieve a breakthrough.
Recognition momentum grows
At least 142 of the 193 UN member states currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state. But until now, recognition has largely come from countries in the Global South or smaller European nations more critical of Israel.
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France’s shift could embolden others to follow suit. Spain, Norway, and Ireland began steps toward recognition earlier this year. Yet Macron’s decision has faced pushback from allies including the United Kingdom and Canada, with officials wary of unilateral moves outside a negotiated peace framework.
Diplomats say Paris will use next week’s UN gathering to rally further support, despite Israeli lobbying and warnings of diplomatic fallout. Israeli officials have reportedly threatened to scale back intelligence cooperation and hinted at annexing parts of the West Bank if France goes ahead.
But for Palestinians, Macron’s move is a rare diplomatic win.
Hussein Al Sheikh, vice president of the Palestinian Authority, called the decision “a courageous and just act” and “a reflection of France’s commitment to international law and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.”
In February, Trump floated the idea of a U.S. “takeover” of Gaza, proposing to relocate its population and redevelop the coastal enclave into a “Middle East Riviera.” The plan was widely condemned as “ethnic cleansing” by the UN, Arab states and human rights groups.
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said last month that a Palestinian state was no longer a foreign policy goal. While the state department distanced itself from his comments, the absence of U.S. participation in next week’s UN conference suggests the administration is firm in its new posture.
Tensions rising ahead of UN showdown
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