France will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday evening.
This landmark move makes France one of the most influential European nations to publicly support official Palestinian statehood recognition.
At least 142 countries already recognize or are preparing to recognize Palestine, although the U.S. and Israel strongly oppose these initiatives.
Macron made the announcement in a detailed statement shared via his verified X account (formerly Twitter), drawing global attention.
He emphasized France’s historical role in promoting peace in the Middle East and a two-state solution to the conflict.
“In line with our historic commitment, France will recognize Palestine before the UN General Assembly this September,” he said.
He added that ending the war in Gaza remains an urgent priority, along with the release of hostages and humanitarian access.
“We need an immediate ceasefire and massive aid for Gaza. Peace is possible through trust and mutual recognition,” Macron declared.
He stressed that Palestinian statehood must involve Hamas’s disarmament and full recognition of Israel to guarantee regional security.
The French leader also confirmed his communication with the Palestinian Authority, reaffirming his country’s readiness to move forward.
Senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh hailed the announcement, describing it as a win for international law and justice.
“This reflects France’s commitment to our right to self-determination and statehood,” al-Sheikh stated in response to Macron’s remarks.
Following the Gaza conflict, other European nations like Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway have also recognized the Palestinian state.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign has reportedly killed 59,587 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel left 1,219 people dead, based on figures compiled by international news agencies.
