France will recognise Palestinian state in September
French President Macron confirms his intention to do so officially when he visits the UN General Assembly
France has announced that it will recognise a Palestinian state in September, in a move commended by both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority but condemned by the United States and Israel.
In a statement published on social media on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated: “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine.” Macron said he would make the official announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The French President went on to say that “the urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide relief to the civilian population. Peace is possible. There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
“It is also necessary to ensure the demilitarisation of Hamas, to secure and rebuild Gaza. Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative. The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is up to us, the French, together with the Israelis, the Palestinians, and our European and international partners, to demonstrate that this is possible.”
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that the US “strongly rejects” the French plan, describing it as a “reckless decision” which “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also strongly condemned the move, saying that “a Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it.
“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
The Palestinian Authority, by contrast, welcomed the move, with Hussein al-Sheikh, Vice President of the PA, describing it as reflecting “France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state”.
Hamas also welcomed the president’s announcement, stating: “[This is] a positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people.”
It called the decision “a political development that reflects growing international conviction in the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the Israeli occupation to distort facts or suppress the will of free nations.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot rejected this appraisal of the situation, saying that France’s intention to formally recognise a Palestinian state runs counter to the stance held by Hamas. In a post on X, he said:
“Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France goes against that terrorist organization.”
The UK has consistently indicated that it supports the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process leading to a two-state solution.
US President Donald Trump is due to land in the UK today for a state visit, with the subject of Palestinian recognition likely to arise between the two leaders.