France has announced plans to officially recognise Palestine as an independent state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Thursday, expressing hope that the decision would contribute to achieving peace in the Middle East.
“In line with France’s longstanding commitment to a just and lasting peace in the region, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron stated on X (formerly Twitter). “I will formally make this declaration at the UN General Assembly in September this year.”
Macron emphasized that the immediate priority remains ending the war in Gaza and providing urgent relief to the civilian population. He stressed the need to establish a viable Palestinian state, one that agrees to demilitarisation and full recognition of Israel, in order to foster regional security.
“The time has come to build the State of Palestine—one that is viable, demilitarised, and committed to the recognition of Israel, so that it may contribute to security for all in the Middle East,” Macron added.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the decision a “reward for terror” and warned it could result in the creation of “another Iranian proxy,” similar to Hamas-run Gaza. “Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” he said.
France’s decision positions it as the most prominent and influential European nation to move toward recognising Palestinian statehood, following recent similar steps by Norway, Ireland, and Spain.
Currently, 142 of the 193 UN member states either recognise or are planning to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. However, several Western powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, have yet to do so.
Macron’s declaration comes amid rising European frustration over Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 59,000 Palestinians and sparked a humanitarian crisis due to severe restrictions on aid.
Palestinian leaders have welcomed France’s decision. Meanwhile, the United States has voiced opposition, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the move as “reckless” and affirming that Washington “strongly rejects” the declaration.
