President Emmanuel Macron has revealed that France will officially recognise the State of Palestine in September, positioning the country to become the first among the G7 nations to take this step.
Macron made the announcement via a post on X, where he noted that the formal declaration would be delivered during a session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” Macron wrote.
Palestinian leaders have welcomed the move, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted sharply, claiming the recognition “rewards terror” in light of the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel.
The United States also expressed disapproval. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Macron’s declaration as “reckless,” stating that Washington “strongly rejects” the French decision.
The G7 comprises seven major industrialised countries, France, the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
In his Thursday post, Macron reaffirmed France’s long-standing stance on peace in the Middle East, writing, “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.
“We must also guarantee the demilitarisation of Hamas, and secure and rebuild Gaza.
“Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative.”
Macron also shared a letter he sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to confirm the decision.
Reacting to the development, Abbas’ deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, told AFP, “This position reflects 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.”
On the Israeli side, Netanyahu criticised Macron’s timing and rationale, stating, “We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the 7 October massacre.
“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,” he added in a post on X.
Hamas also issued a response, describing France’s move as a “positive step in the right direction,” and called on nations around the world “to follow France’s lead.”
At present, over 140 of the 193 UN member states have already recognised Palestine. Some European Union nations, including Spain and Ireland, are among them, though major Western powers like the US and the UK have not extended recognition.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement on Thursday indicating plans for an “emergency call” with the French and German leaders to coordinate efforts toward ending the ongoing violence.
Statehood, Starmer said, is an “inalienable right of the Palestinian people,” while adding that a ceasefire could “put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.”
Saudi Arabia welcomed Macron’s decision, with its foreign ministry stating it “reaffirms the international community’s consensus on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.”
The recognition announcement comes amid a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed at least 59,106 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health authorities.
Vast portions of the Gaza Strip have been reduced to rubble, and aid organisations continue to raise alarms.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees reported on Thursday that one in five children in Gaza City is now suffering from malnutrition, with cases rising daily.
More than 100 humanitarian groups and rights organisations have warned of a looming famine and have urged immediate international intervention.
Israel, which maintains control over the flow of goods into Gaza, denies imposing a siege and holds Hamas responsible for the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
