 "A man holds a placard reading \"Free Palestine\" during a demonstration, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, June 9, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
France has declared its intent to officially recognise the State of Palestine this September during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the announcement in a public message addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
With this move, France is poised to become the first major Western power and G7 country to take such a step, aligning itself with over 140 nations that have already done so, but also inviting sharp diplomatic friction with key allies including Israel and the United States.
This development has emerged amid global criticism over the dire conditions in Gaza and broader calls for reviving the stalled peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
What is behind Macron’s decision?
In his official communication, Macron expressed a longstanding French commitment to a peaceful resolution in the region.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine,” he wrote, adding, “I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”
The French president’s decision follows several months of internal discussions, where his administration weighed the implications of such recognition.
Macron had already hinted at this direction in June, when France was co-planning a diplomatic conference with Saudi Arabia to outline a vision for Palestinian statehood while simultaneously ensuring Israel’s security.
That conference, originally scheduled for June 17-20 in Riyadh, was delayed following an escalation in regional hostilities between Israel and Iran.
It has since been restructured into a ministerial event taking place July 28-29 in New York, ahead of the UNGA, where a follow-up involving heads of state is expected.
According to French diplomatic sources, Macron’s decision was timed to provide a framework for discussion and negotiation among international partners also weighing recognition, or those hesitant to act without broader consensus.
Macron is seeking to build momentum behind the two-state solution by triggering a broader alignment within the Western bloc.
The recognition also follows years of public and parliamentary support within France for the Palestinian cause.
The French National Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in 2014 urging the government to recognise Palestinian statehood, which was followed by French support for an unsuccessful UN Security Council initiative aimed at achieving statehood by 2017.
France’s position historically supports the creation of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, though sources told CNN that no specific territorial boundaries were mentioned in Macron’s current plan.
How have Israel & co. reacted?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a post on X, warned that such recognition would “reward terror and risk creating another Iranian proxy.”
He stated, “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned the move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” insisting that Israel would prevent the formation of any Palestinian entity perceived as a threat to its national security or existence.
Across the Atlantic, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced strong disapproval.
“This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” he wrote on X, referring to the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that marked the start of the current war in Gaza.
In a June diplomatic cable, US officials noted that such moves could conflict with American foreign policy and potentially result in diplomatic consequences.
In the same month, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly questioned whether the pursuit of a Palestinian state remained a viable American objective.
US President Donald Trump had earlier proposed that the United States assume control of Gaza — a plan roundly criticised by Palestinians, international human rights groups and many global institutions as a proposal amounting to “ethnic cleansing.”
Was the humanitarian crisis in Gaza behind Macron’s shift?
The worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza have significantly influenced the French decision.
Since May, over a thousand Palestinians have died attempting to access food. Starvation-related fatalities have also risen, with images of emaciated civilians — particularly children — circulating globally, resulting in widespread condemnation.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), described the population in Gaza as appearing like “walking corpses.”
As of July, the entire population of Gaza — approximately 2.1 million people — is classified as food insecure. The region’s health ministry recently reported that nearly 900,000 children are going hungry, with at least 70,000 already suffering from malnutrition.
Western leaders have responded with urgent calls for ceasefires and humanitarian access.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in announcing joint emergency talks with Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said, “We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis. The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible.”
France, for its part, halted weapons exports to Israel, arranged air-dropped humanitarian aid into Gaza, and repeatedly emphasised the need for unrestricted entry for journalists and humanitarian organisations.
Will France’s recognition make any difference?
France’s diplomatic history with the Palestinian cause dates back decades.
Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, French President Charles de Gaulle openly supported Palestinian aspirations. France has maintained diplomatic engagement with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) despite violent incidents involving the group in Europe.
Internally, recognition is expected to garner support across the French political spectrum. France is home to the largest populations of both Jews and Muslims in Europe, a demographic balance that has made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a sensitive domestic issue.
Macron has previously expressed concern about importing the conflict into France but has continued to criticise Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Still, Macron’s push has not been without resistance. Diplomats report that French attempts to rally support from allies — especially the UK, Canada, and Germany — have met with caution or outright reluctance.
Israeli officials have even warned of repercussions, including reduced cooperation on intelligence matters and diplomatic obstacles to France’s broader West Asian initiatives, reported Reuters.
Some Israeli voices have hinted at retaliatory measures such as the potential annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Despite these tensions, Palestinian Authority officials welcomed Macron’s stance.
Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh wrote on X that the decision “reflected France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
Who recognises Palestine, who doesn’t?
To date, over 140 of the 193 UN member states have extended formal recognition to the State of Palestine. These include the vast majority of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Eastern Europe.
Countries that recognise Palestine:
Africa: Nearly all nations, including Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, and Kenya.
Asia: Widespread recognition from countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, and most Arab states (eg. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon).
Latin America & the Caribbean: Countries including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Ecuador.
Europe: Sweden led the way in 2014, followed by Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. In May 2024, Ireland, Spain, and Norway also recognised Palestine.
Oceania: Recognition by countries such as Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, along with other Pacific island states.
Countries that do not recognise Palestine:
North America: United States and Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Japan, South Korea
These nations typically support a two-state solution but insist that recognition must result from direct negotiations between Israel and Palestinian representatives.
In 1988, the Palestinian declaration of independence was immediately recognised by over 70 nations which included Russia.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly granted Palestine “non-member observer state” status through Resolution 67/19, with 138 votes in favour.
In 2024, a General Assembly vote passed overwhelmingly in support of Palestinian eligibility for full UN membership (143-9-25), but the US veto in the Security Council blocked admission.
While France’s formal recognition may symbolise a diplomatic milestone, it is not likely to alter the immediate realities on the ground.
Aid remains out of reach for most Palestinians in Gaza, and a permanent ceasefire has yet to materialise.
The broader hope in Paris is that France’s move might catalyse further recognitions across Europe and the West — shifting the political calculus toward a viable two-state resolution.
With inputs from agencies