France to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state this coming September during the UN General Assembly in New York, President Emmanuel Macron has announced. With this move, France becomes the first member of the G7—an alliance of the world’s most advanced economies—to extend official recognition to the State of Palestine.
Macron made the announcement in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue civilians. Peace is possible. An immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and widespread humanitarian aid for Gaza are essential.”
Palestinian officials have welcomed Macron’s decision, calling it a long-overdue recognition of their right to self-determination. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the move, calling it a reward for terrorism following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
The G7—comprising France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan—has historically aligned with Israel on geopolitical matters. France’s stance marks a potential shift in the bloc’s collective diplomatic approach.
In his X post, Macron added: “I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine in line with our commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We must ensure Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is rebuilt and secured, and that a functional, demilitarized Palestinian state is established which fully recognizes Israel. There is no alternative.”
The post included a letter Macron had sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, formally confirming the decision. In response, Abbas’s deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, called it “a reflection of France’s commitment to international law and the Palestinian people’s right to statehood.”
However, Netanyahu responded furiously on X, referencing the October 7 Hamas attacks. He wrote, “Recognizing a Palestinian state near Tel Aviv, after the slaughter of Israelis, is not a path to peace—it’s a reward for mass murder. Palestinians don’t want a state beside Israel; they want a state instead of Israel.”
Hamas, meanwhile, welcomed France’s declaration as “a positive step in the right direction” and urged other nations to follow suit.
As of now, more than 140 of the United Nations’ 193 member states have recognized Palestine as a state. These include Spain and Ireland among EU countries. However, key Israeli allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have yet to follow.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday that he would hold “urgent talks” with French and German leaders to explore immediate actions to end the killings. Starmer added that recognizing a Palestinian state is “an inalienable right of the Palestinian people” and a ceasefire would pave the way for a two-state solution.
Saudi Arabia also praised France’s decision, stating that it aligns with the international consensus supporting Palestinian sovereignty and independence.
The backdrop of Macron’s announcement remains the brutal conflict in Gaza. Following the October 2023 Hamas attack that left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 kidnapped, Israel launched a massive military operation. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 59,106 Palestinians have since been killed, and much of the territory has been reduced to rubble.
The humanitarian crisis is dire. The UN’s Palestinian aid agency UNRWA said Thursday that 1 in 5 children in Gaza now suffer from malnutrition, and over 100 global NGOs have issued famine alerts, urging governments to intervene. Israel, which controls all entry points into Gaza, denies any blockade and blames Hamas for all shortages.
France to recognize Palestine amid such international turmoil marks a pivotal moment in global diplomacy and signals increasing support for a two-state solution as the only path toward long-term peace in the Middle East.
