France has formally recognized the State of Palestine as President Emmanuel Macron declaring the move a step toward peace and a direct response to global outrage over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Speaking at a United Nations summit on the two-state solution in New York on Monday, Macron announced: “France recognizes the State of Palestine. It is the only solution that will allow Israel to live in peace.”
He added that the recognition should be viewed as “a defeat for Hamas,” underscoring that the decision was not meant to undermine Israel’s legitimacy but to push forward the path to peace.
Macron stressed that recognition of Palestine “takes nothing away from Israel” but rather supports the long-standing two-state framework backed by the international community.
He argued that Palestinian statehood was not a prize but a right, and insisted that a lasting settlement required parallel guarantees of security for Israel and sovereignty for Palestinians.
While the move carries historic diplomatic weight, France made clear that recognition will not be followed immediately by practical steps such as opening an embassy.
Officials in Paris said, that would only happen after key conditions are met including a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held since Hamas’ October 2023 attacks.
Macron had trailed the announcement as far back as July, saying France would use the platform of the UN General Assembly to make the recognition official.
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He defended the timing, arguing that with the Gaza conflict grinding on and humanitarian suffering worsening, international pressure was needed to revive talks.
The decision drew a furious reaction from Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government dismissed the recognition as a “charade” that rewarded terrorism and undermined peace.
Some far-right ministers went further, threatening to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and dismantle aspects of the Palestinian Authority in retaliation.
France now joins a growing list of Western nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia that have recognized Palestine in recent months, in what analysts describe as a coordinated push to revive negotiations and isolate hardline positions on both sides.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the move, describing the two-state solution as “the only way out of this nightmare.”
He emphasized that Palestinian statehood was “a right, not a reward.”
France’s decision adds weight to international pressure on Israel, which is facing mounting condemnation over civilian casualties and humanitarian devastation in Gaza.
It also underscores growing frustration in Europe with the failure of successive peace efforts.
Despite the symbolism, experts caution that recognition alone will not end the conflict. But supporters argue it could shift momentum back toward diplomacy, sending a signal to both Palestinians and Israelis that the world remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution.
Crediblenewsng.com
