France will officially recognise the state of Palestine in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday. It is a landmark decision that makes it the first G7 nation to take such a step and has drawn both praise and sharp condemnation on the world stage.
The formal recognition is scheduled to take place during the UN General Assembly in New York. In a statement posted on X, President Macron framed the move as part of France’s “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
He stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a massive increase in humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. This decision to recognise Palestine is seen as a significant shift in Western diplomatic policy.
The announcement was met with immediate and forceful reactions. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision, with President Mahmoud Abbas’s deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, stating it reflects France’s commitment to international law and the Palestinian right to self-determination. Hamas also described the move as a “positive step in the right direction.”
Conversely, Israel and its primary ally, the United States, condemned the plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued the decision “rewards terror” following the 7 October 2023 attacks and claimed a Palestinian state under current conditions would be a “launch pad to annihilate Israel.” Echoing this sentiment, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the decision “reckless” and asserted that it “only serves Hamas propaganda.”
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Diplomatic pressure and the humanitarian crisis
President Macron’s unilateral move is perceived as an effort to apply pressure on other major Western powers to follow suit, particularly as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates.
The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) reported that one in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, and aid organisations have warned of mass starvation. With this action, France hopes to recognise Palestine as a viable step toward a two-state solution.
The decision places other G7 members, including the United Kingdom, in a difficult position. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has described statehood as an “inalienable right of the Palestinian people,” is now facing increased pressure from within his own party to align with France. However, he maintains that recognition should follow a ceasefire as part of a broader peace process. Starmer confirmed he would hold an “emergency call” with French and German leaders to discuss.
More than 140 of the 193 UN member states already recognise a Palestinian state. France’s decision is significant because it breaks ranks with the long-held position of the G7, a group of the world’s largest advanced economies that also includes Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Macron’s government hopes this will create a domino effect, compelling other nations to recognise Palestine and thereby advance a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Image: French President Emmanuel Macron addresses a media conference (AP)
