France formally recognized the State of Palestine on September 22, during a high-level summit at the United Nations in New York co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, joining a wave of Western nations including Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal in the move. President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s decision from the podium at the United Nations General Assembly, stating that the time had come to give new momentum to the two-state solution and to end the war by means that restore justice and dignity to Palestinians.
Macron said that recognizing the Palestinian state would not be a reward to any party but a necessary step to break the current cycle of violence. He tied future diplomatic measures—including the opening of a French embassy in Palestine—to the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, a ceasefire in Gaza, and reforms by the Palestinian Authority.
The announcement drew applause in the UN hall, especially from the Palestinian delegation, with President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking by video link because he was denied a U.S. visa, welcoming the move as “historic and courageous.” The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the decision was consistent with international law and UN resolutions, supporting ongoing efforts for peace and the realisation of the two-state solution.
Israel immediately criticised France’s recognition, describing it as harmful and arguing that such proclamations, made unilaterally, risk undermining the prospects for negotiated solutions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that there will be no Palestinian state “west of the Jordan River,” framing the recognition as a “huge reward to terrorism.”
On the international stage, the move by France and its allies reflects growing frustration with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, renewed concerns about settlement expansion in the West Bank, and a perception that the two-state framework has been stalling. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the decision as one among recent recognitions that signal momentum for a viable peace, and reiterated that Palestinian statehood is a right, not a reward.
Despite its symbolic nature, analysts note that recognition alone does not change realities on the ground: control over territory, security, governance, the terms and implementation of any ceasefire, and Israel’s military operations will still shape whether the recognition produces meaningful change. However, for many Palestinians and their supporters internationally the recognition marks a diplomatic milestone and may bolster Palestine’s long-standing push for full UN membership and international legitimacy.
In his address, Macron warned of the risk that, unless strong action is taken now, the chance for peace could slip away. He observed that while several Western governments had already recognized Palestine, France’s decision was intended to galvanize others to similarly commit. He underlined that recognition is just one component of diplomacy, alongside calls for humanitarian access, justice, and for reforms on the Palestinian side, as well as ensuring Israel’s security.
