PARIS, France – July 25, 2025 – French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, becoming the first G7 nation to take this step. In a statement posted on X, Macron framed the decision as part of France’s “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” emphasizing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and massive humanitarian aid as urgent priorities. The move, which has drawn sharp condemnation from Israel and the United States, marks a significant shift in Western diplomacy and could reshape global politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Macron’s announcement, accompanied by a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, outlines a vision for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and contributes to regional security. “We must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” Macron wrote. He stressed the need to end the war in Gaza, where over 50,000 Palestinians have died since Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Macron also called for Hamas’s demilitarization and Gaza’s reconstruction, reflecting growing global concern over the humanitarian crisis, with one in five children in Gaza City malnourished, according to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency.
Palestinian leaders welcomed the decision, with Abbas’s deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, praising France’s commitment to international law and Palestinian self-determination. Hamas called it a “positive step,” urging other nations to follow. Saudi Arabia and Spain, which recognized Palestine in 2024 alongside Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia, also endorsed the move, with Saudi Arabia calling it a reaffirmation of the Palestinian right to statehood. Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision as a “reward for terror,” arguing it risks creating “another Iranian proxy” and a “launch pad to annihilate Israel.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar labeled it “absurd,” while Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin called it a “black stain on France’s history,” advocating for Israel to annex the West Bank in response.
Implications for World Politics
France’s recognition of Palestine as a state, set to be formalized on September 9, 2025, at the UN General Assembly, is a bold diplomatic move that could galvanize other Western nations, particularly the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces pressure from MPs to follow suit. The decision aligns with over 140 countries, including more than a dozen in Europe, that already recognize Palestine, but as the first G7 member to do so, France’s action carries significant weight. It signals a growing European divergence from the U.S., which, under the Trump administration, strongly opposes unilateral recognition, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it “reckless” and a “slap in the face” to victims of the October 7 attack. The U.S. withdrawal from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar on July 24, citing Hamas’s lack of good faith, underscores this divide.
The move could embolden other European nations, especially amid mounting anger over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where 800 Palestinians reportedly died at aid sites. France’s co-hosting of a UN conference with Saudi Arabia next week to discuss a two-state solution may further momentum, potentially pressuring countries like Germany and Canada to reconsider their stances. However, it risks deepening Western splits, as the U.S. and Israel view recognition as undermining bilateral negotiations, a stance echoed by critics who argue it weakens incentives for Palestinian concessions. The conference, originally planned for June but postponed after an Israel-Iran air war, aims to address Palestinian governance, Hamas’s disarmament, and Gaza’s reconstruction, but U.S. and Israeli opposition may limit its impact.
Implications for Israel
For Israel, Macron’s decision is a diplomatic setback, exacerbating tensions with France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim populations. Israel’s government, already facing international criticism for its Gaza campaign and West Bank settlement expansion—over 500,000 settlers now live there—sees the move as legitimizing Hamas and threatening its security. Netanyahu’s claim that a Palestinian state would seek to replace Israel reflects fears of a unified Palestinian entity challenging its territorial control, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, annexed in 1967. Hardline ministers like Bezalel Smotrich, who called for West Bank annexation, signal a potential escalation, which could further isolate Israel globally.
The timing, following the collapse of ceasefire talks, complicates Israel’s position. The U.S. withdrawal from negotiations and France’s condemnation of Israel’s aid restrictions amplify pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has resisted outlining a post-war governance plan for Gaza. Macron’s push for a demilitarized Palestine and a reformed Palestinian Authority could force Israel to engage with these ideas, but domestic political constraints and public support for a hardline stance may limit concessions.
Broader Context
France’s decision comes amid a shifting global landscape. The Gaza war, now in its 22nd month, has fueled international outrage, with the UN reporting mass starvation and 100+ aid organizations warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. Macron’s move, while symbolic—Palestine lacks full UN membership due to U.S. vetoes—aims to keep the two-state solution alive as settlements erode its feasibility. It also reflects domestic pressures in France, where Middle East conflicts resonate deeply. However, without concrete steps like sanctions or trade measures, critics argue the recognition may remain symbolic, as seen in earlier recognitions by Spain and others that failed to alter ground realities.
As France prepares for its UN announcement, the decision could either catalyze a broader Western shift toward Palestinian statehood or deepen diplomatic rifts, particularly with the U.S. and Israel. For now, it underscores the urgency of addressing Gaza’s crisis and the elusive goal of peace in a region where trust remains scarce.
