French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine, becoming the most influential European country to do so. The recognition is scheduled to be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
In a statement published on Thursday night via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Macron declared:
“Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine. Peace is possible.”
Macron’s Vision: Peace, Aid, and Ceasefire
Alongside the recognition, President Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and urgent humanitarian access to the besieged Palestinian territory. He emphasized the need for massive humanitarian aid to reach civilians, and also called for the demilitarisation of Hamas as part of broader peace efforts.
“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population,” Macron stated, also referencing a personal letter he sent to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Diplomatic Milestone for Palestine
France’s decision marks a significant diplomatic shift. With this move, France becomes the most powerful EU nation to recognise Palestinian statehood. While 140 countries already recognise Palestine, only a dozen European nations—mostly in Eastern and Southern Europe—have done so.
Macron’s declaration follows weeks of rising global condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where aid restrictions by Israel and intense military operations have created widespread famine and displacement. A coalition of over 100 humanitarian organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, and Oxfam, recently declared famine conditions as “widespread” across the Strip.
Context and Political Implications
President Macron previously stated in June his intent to recognise Palestine, aligning this step with his support for a two-state solution that acknowledges both Palestinian sovereignty and Israel’s right to self-defence.
France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, has long maintained a sensitive and complex position in Middle Eastern affairs. The move comes just after the United States withdrew from ceasefire talks in Qatar, accusing Hamas of negotiating in “bad faith.”
Israeli Response
In response to Macron’s announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the decision, calling it “ridiculous and not serious,” and claimed:
“A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state.”
