France to Announce Recognition in September
On 24 July, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, establishing it as the first permanent Western member of the UN Security Council to do so.
The decision comes amid deepening international outrage over Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, where over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
Macron made the announcement after visiting Al-Arish, Egypt, in April, where he saw the humanitarian consequences firsthand and spoke with injured Palestinians. French diplomats revealed that Macron initially sought a joint move with Canada and the UK, but when talks failed due to U.S. pressure, France proceeded alone.
‘We Cannot Wait Any Longer’
According to French officials, Macron saw growing inaction as untenable. “It became increasingly apparent that we could not wait to get partners on board,” said a senior diplomat. The French president had already pledged to co-host a high-level UN conference in September to push forward a two-state solution and address the humanitarian crisis.
France will join 142 other countries that have either recognised or committed to recognising Palestine. While symbolic, the move carries geopolitical weight given France’s influence in the EU and historical commitment to an independent foreign policy. It also comes as Macron attempts to reassert France’s leadership on global issues, mirroring the bold diplomatic style of former president Charles de Gaulle.
Diplomatic Shockwaves Across the West
Israel condemned the decision, accusing France of rewarding Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed the move would create another Iranian proxy “launchpad” like Gaza. Israel Katz, the defense minister, called it “a disgrace and surrender to terrorism.”
The United States also criticised the decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the announcement “reckless,” echoing concerns that it undermines Israel’s security and encourages militant groups.
Britain and Germany have so far refrained from following France’s lead, opting instead to emphasise conditional recognition linked to peace negotiations.
However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez supported Macron’s direction, calling it necessary to revive the crumbling two-state framework. Sánchez warned that “Netanyahu is trying to destroy” the possibility of peace, adding that joint recognition could help preserve it.
A Response to Gaza’s Catastrophe
France’s move comes as famine, mass displacement, and Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Gaza. A coalition of 100 NGOs, including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon.
Macron’s frustration reportedly deepened after these reports, with French officials confirming that images of starving children and repeated Israeli strikes drove the urgency.
Macron wrote to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to convey his intent. Abbas’s deputy welcomed the move, calling it a “clear endorsement of our right to self-determination.” Hamas, while politically opposed to Abbas, also praised the announcement as a “step towards justice.”
Why Macron’s Move Matters
France’s recognition could increase pressure on other Western governments to act. Observers suggest Macron hopes to nudge Germany, the UK, and Italy toward reviving stalled peace talks and halting the erasure of Palestinian statehood. As the EU’s most influential state, France’s stance challenges the U.S.-led narrative and raises questions about continued Western support for Israel despite mounting war crimes allegations.
Yet analysts caution that recognition alone cannot stop the war or Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Without concrete diplomatic or legal consequences, the move may remain symbolic. Still, Macron’s declaration is a rare Western rebuke of Israel’s actions in Gaza—and a reminder that Palestine, as an idea and a nation, cannot be ignored.
Read Macron’s X Post here (Translated):
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April 2025
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