French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday at a United Nations conference that France will formally recognize Palestinian statehood, aligning with a wave of nations that took similar steps over the weekend.
Canada, the U.K. and Australia each formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday. This move was a joint effort among Western nations to support a two-state solution and to apply pressure on Israel, as its military offensive in Gaza persists despite growing global condemnation. Over 145 U.N. member states have formally acknowledged Palestinian statehood.
“There is a solution, a way of breaking the cycle of war and destruction. It lies in the recognition of the other,” Macron said. “The time has come.”
The one-day meeting, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and aimed at revitalizing discussion around a two-state solution, was attended by more than 140 global leaders. Both Israel and the U.S. boycotted the event, with Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon dismissing the gathering as a “circus.”
Macron said France’s decision to formally recognize Palestinian statehood underscores the country’s “historic commitment” to both the Middle East and to “peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
France was not alone in formally recognizing Palestinian statehood at the event — Belgium, Monaco and Malta also recognized a Palestinian state during the summit. Prince Albert II of Monaco reaffirmed his support for Israel’s right to “live within safe and recognized borders” and for the Palestinian people’s right to “a sovereign, viable and democratic state,” stressing the importance of pursuing a “balanced and sustainable” solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the recent recognitions as “giving a huge prize to terrorism” on Sunday, reiterating that “there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan.”
While the move is considered largely symbolic and political, experts suggest it could pave the way for deepening diplomatic ties between the nations and further solidifies France’s support for a two-state solution.
However, the impact on the ground in Gaza is expected to be minimal. Israeli Defense Forces are continuing their advance into Gaza City, the Gaza Strip’s largest urban area. Over 40 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes yesterday, with the death toll in Gaza exceeding 64,000 after nearly two years of conflict, according to local health officials.
“We must do everything in our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution,” Macron said before announcing France’s official recognition. “Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.”
President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York tomorrow. The president remains opposed to Palestinian statehood, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claiming Monday that Trump views the recent series of formal recognitions as “a reward to Hamas.”