France’s Macron Announces Intent to Recognize Palestinian State Amid Gaza Crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday that France intends to formally recognize Palestine as a state, a significant diplomatic move that comes amidst escalating international condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The decision has drawn strong criticism from Israel.

Macron confirmed his intention to formalize this recognition at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. He emphasized the immediate priority, stating on X, “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.”

This largely symbolic declaration increases diplomatic pressure on Israel as the conflict and severe humanitarian conditions persist in the Gaza Strip. France is now the most prominent Western power to announce such a recognition, a step that could encourage other nations to follow suit. Over 140 countries, including more than a dozen in Europe, currently recognize a Palestinian state.

Palestinians seek an independent state encompassing the occupied West Bank, annexed East Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s government and much of its political establishment have long opposed Palestinian statehood, arguing that such a move would reward militants following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron’s decision, asserting, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.”

Conversely, the Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement, with a letter confirming the decision presented to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. Hussein Al Sheikh, the PLO’s vice president, expressed gratitude to Macron, stating the position “reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination.”

The United States, however, “strongly rejects” Macron’s plan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Given its large Jewish and Muslim populations, France often experiences domestic tensions related to Middle East conflicts. While Macron initially supported Israel after the October 7 Hamas attacks and frequently speaks against antisemitism, his frustration with Israel’s war in Gaza has grown. He stated, “Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine. Peace is possible.”

Thursday’s announcement followed the breakdown of Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, which the U.S. attributed to Hamas’ lack of good faith. It also precedes a conference on a two-state solution co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the U.N. next week. Macron has recently expressed his “determination to recognize the state of Palestine” and advocates for a broader movement towards a two-state solution alongside recognition of Israel and its right to self-defense.

Momentum against Israel has been building, with France and over two dozen mostly European countries recently condemning Israel’s restrictions on aid shipments and the killings of Palestinians seeking food. Macron is scheduled to join the leaders of Britain and Germany for emergency talks on Gaza on Friday, focusing on aid delivery and de-escalation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed, “We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis. The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible.”

Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 war, considering it part of its capital. In the West Bank, over 500,000 Jewish settlers reside in settlements, while 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule, with limited autonomy granted to the Palestinian Authority in population centers. The last significant peace talks failed in 2009. Most of the international community views a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel as the only realistic resolution to the protracted conflict.

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