French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognize Palestine as an independent state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in September 2025.
This significant step places France at the forefront of Western nations pushing for a political resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which has persisted for over seven decades.
“We must end the suffering in Gaza and recognize the right of Palestinians to self-determination,” Macron stated in a nationally televised speech. “Peace and dignity must be restored to both peoples.”
Macron’s declaration has triggered sharp criticism from Israel, where government officials swiftly condemned the decision. Yariv Levin, Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and a key figure in the current Israeli government, called the move a “shameful act that legitimizes terrorism.”
Levin pointed fingers at Hamas, a group currently governing Gaza and listed as a terrorist organization by countries including the United States, the European Union, and Israel.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized France for what he described as a “hasty and unilateral” decision. “Such steps should come as part of a comprehensive peace negotiation—not in isolation,” Rubio argued, reaffirming the U.S. stance on supporting a negotiated two-state solution.
In Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority, Macron’s announcement was welcomed as a diplomatic victory.
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“This is a recognition not just of our statehood but of our humanity,” said a senior official with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which has been advocating for global recognition since its establishment in 1964.
Even officials from rival faction Hamas, based in Gaza, cautiously welcomed France’s shift, calling it “a necessary step toward global justice.”
France’s announcement aligns with growing momentum in parts of Europe where several countries—including Ireland, Spain, and Norway—have recently pledged or implemented recognition of Palestinian statehood.
According to the United Nations, over 140 countries have already recognized Palestine as a sovereign state since its 1988 Declaration of Independence.
Analysts believe this growing trend could put pressure on remaining Western holdouts like the United Kingdom and Germany to reconsider their positions, especially amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank.
The upcoming session of the UN General Assembly could mark a pivotal moment in the global conversation about Palestinian sovereignty. France’s initiative, Macron insists, is “not a condemnation of Israel, but an affirmation that peace cannot exist without justice.”