French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the country will officially recognize the State of Palestine. According to a statement released by Macron, this announcement will be made solemnly at the next meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, scheduled for September.
Macron explained that the decision is part of France's historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The president emphasized the urgent need to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population."The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population," Macron said in his message.
The French president insisted that peace is possible. Among the proposed measures, he highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the provision of massive humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza. Furthermore, Macron stressed the importance of ensuring the demilitarization of Hamas, as well as securing and rebuilding Gaza.
Regarding the future of the Palestinian state, Macron emphasized: “ We must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and ensure that, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of everyone in the Middle East.”
The French president emphasized that there are no viable alternatives to establishing peace and reiterated French society's desire for stability in the region."It is up to us, the French, together with the Israelis, the Palestinians, and our European and international partners, to demonstrate that this is possible," he added.
Regarding the commitments made by the Palestinian Authority, Macron confirmed that he sent a letter to the president expressing his determination to move forward with this process. The president concluded his statement by appealing for"trust, clarity, and commitment" and expressed his conviction to achieve peace.
Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed Macron’s announcement: “This position reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
With this announcement, France becomes the largest and most powerful country in Europe to officially recognize Palestine as a state, according to a tally by the AFP news agency. At least 142 of the 193 members of the United Nations (UN) have recognized or announced their intention to recognize the Palestinian state, despite staunch opposition from Israel and the United States.
The list of countries that have recognized Palestine includes most states in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, but not the United States, Canada, most of Western Europe, Australia, Japan, or South Korea.
France is home to the largest Jewish population in Europe and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe. According to AFP, conflicts in the Middle East often impact France through protests or social tensions.
Israeli Vice President and Justice Minister Yariv Levin condemned the French recognition on Thursday, calling it a “black mark on French history and direct aid to terrorism.” Levin said that in light of this “shameful decision,” “the time has come to implement Israeli sovereignty” over the West Bank, a territory under Israeli occupation since 1967.
The French announcement marks a new chapter in the international debate over the status of Palestine, amid deep diplomatic divisions and persistent regional conflict.
