France Recognizes the State of Palestine
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that France will formally recognize “the State of Palestine,” marking the country as the first G7 nation to take such a step.
This announcement was made by Macron on Thursday through a post on X.
“In light of our historical commitment to achieving a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East, France has decided to recognize the State of Palestine. I plan to officially announce this at the United Nations General Assembly in September. It is imperative that the conflict in Gaza ceases immediately, and that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. Peace is achievable. A ceasefire must occur right away, all hostages have to be released, and substantial humanitarian support must get to Gaza,” Macron expressed.
“We must ensure the disarmament of Hamas, secure the Gaza Strip, and initiate its reconstruction. Ultimately, the State of Palestine needs to be established, with its capacity to flourish, contingent upon its acceptance of being unarmed and fully recognizing Israel, which would in turn contribute to the security of the entire region. There is simply no other option,” he continued.
“The French populace desires peace in the Middle East. We, the French, along with Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners, must collectively demonstrate that peace is indeed possible. Therefore, based on the commitments made to me by the President of the Palestinian Authority, I’ve sent him a letter reaffirming my determination to progress. Trust, clarity, and commitment. We will realize peace,” he added.
Out of the 193 United Nations (UN) member nations, 146 have accepted Palestine as a sovereign state. However, France’s recognition is particularly noteworthy, being the first G7 nation and a member of the UN Security Council to do so.
This announcement arrives amidst the U.S. declaring its withdrawal from ceasefire discussions. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, pointed out Hamas’s lack of willingness to engage in constructive negotiations.
“We’ve chosen to return our team from Doha for consultations following Hamas’s recent response, which indicates a clear disinterest in establishing a ceasefire in Gaza,” Witkoff stated on Thursday.
“Though the mediators have exerted considerable effort, Hamas seems neither coordinated nor acting in good faith. We are now exploring alternative paths to secure the release of the hostages and strive for a more stable environment for Gaza residents. It’s unfortunate that Hamas has behaved this selfishly. We remain steadfast in seeking an end to this conflict and achieving lasting peace in Gaza,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also responded to France’s news.
“We [Israel] strongly oppose President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state adjacent to Tel Aviv following the October 7 massacre. This action rewards terrorism and risks creating another Iranian proxy, similarly to what happened in Gaza. A Palestinian state now would merely serve as a launch point for the destruction of Israel, rather than coexistence. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not desire a state alongside Israel; they want a state in place of Israel,” he asserted.
Additionally, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, criticized Macron’s move as “a dark mark on France’s history and a direct encouragement of terrorism.”
“The Land of Israel rightfully belongs to the Israeli people, and even President Macron’s announcement will not alter that,” he noted, while advocating for Israel to annex Gaza and the West Bank in response to Macron’s statement.
In contrast, Hussein al-Sheikh, a deputy of President Mahmoud Abbas, lauded the decision, stating it “reflected France’s dedication to international law and support for Palestinian self-determination rights.”
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry echoed similar sentiments, welcoming Macron’s statement as a step towards rejuvenating the peace process.
Furthermore, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris termed France’s gesture “a significant contribution towards achieving the two-state solution.”
Harris, who also serves as the Taoiseach in Ireland’s coalition government, has long Newanz emphasized the “moral and legal rationale” for recognizing Palestinian statehood. He mentioned coordinating with Spain and Norway to advocate for collective acknowledgment and encouraged other European nations to join this initiative.
