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Post Reply: France to Recognize Palestinian State in September, Macron Announces

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 25, 2025, 6:31 am</div><div id="pl-7213"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7213-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7213-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7213-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24, 2025, that France will formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state during the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision marks a significant shift in French foreign policy, positioning France as the first Group of 7 (G7) nation and the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to take this step. Macron framed the move as part of France's historic commitment to fostering a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, emphasizing the urgent need to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In a statement posted on X, Macron outlined his rationale, stating that the immediate priority is to end the war in Gaza, secure a ceasefire, release all hostages, and provide massive humanitarian aid to civilians. He underscored that peace is achievable through a two-state solution, with recognition of a Palestinian state as a critical step. Macron also shared a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, confirming France's intention to advocate for Palestinian statehood and encourage other nations to follow suit. The announcement comes ahead of a UN conference next week, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at advancing a roadmap for a two-state solution while ensuring Israel's security.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The decision has elicited strong reactions from various stakeholders. Palestinian officials welcomed the move, with Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority's vice-president, praising France's commitment to international law and Palestinian self-determination. Hala Abou-Hassira, the Palestinian ambassador to France, described the decision as a reflection of France's fidelity to its historical policies and international law, sending a clear message to Israel and the United States that a two-state solution must remain viable. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, called the move a positive step and urged other nations, particularly in Europe, to emulate France's example.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Israel, however, reacted with sharp condemnation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recognition as a reward for terrorism, particularly in light of Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Netanyahu argued that a Palestinian state under current conditions would serve as a launchpad to annihilate Israel rather than coexist peacefully. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the decision a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that unilateral recognition would boost Hamas and destabilize the region. Israel has consistently opposed foreign recognition of Palestinian statehood, citing security concerns and accusing Macron of leading a crusade against the Jewish state.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The international response has been mixed. The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, expressed strong opposition through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the decision reckless and argued it serves Hamas's propaganda. The U.S. has historically resisted unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, viewing it as counterproductive to negotiated peace. In contrast, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry praised France's decision as a reaffirmation of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024, welcomed France's move, emphasizing the need to protect the two-state solution against efforts to undermine it. Jordan's foreign ministry expressed hope that the announcement would galvanize further international support for Palestinian statehood.</p>
<p dir="ltr">France's decision comes amid growing global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel's military campaign has resulted in significant loss of life and destruction. According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 59,106 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict escalated following the October 7, 2023, attack. The UN's Palestinian refugee agency reported that one in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, with cases increasing daily. France, alongside more than two dozen mostly European countries, recently condemned Israel's restrictions on aid shipments and the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians attempting to access food supplies. Macron's announcement aligns with emergency talks scheduled for July 25, 2025, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German leaders to address the Gaza crisis and advocate for a ceasefire.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The move also reflects France's long-standing support for a two-state solution, though formal recognition marks a departure from its previous stance that such a step should follow peace negotiations. France, home to Western Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim populations, has navigated complex domestic and international dynamics in its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Macron's decision is seen as an attempt to assert a distinct European vision for the Middle East, particularly as relations with the U.S. have been strained over issues like Ukraine and trade. However, some diplomats and experts caution that unilateral recognition may deepen divisions within the European Union and with the U.S., and could prove symbolic without accompanying measures like sanctions or trade bans on Israeli settlements.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Israel's ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, now home to over 500,000 settlers, has further complicated the prospects for a Palestinian state. The Israeli parliament's recent symbolic vote to annex the West Bank has drawn international criticism, with rights observers describing it as effective annexation. Macron's announcement signals a rejection of these actions, positioning France as a leader in the push for Palestinian statehood at a time when negotiations have been stalled since 2009.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the UN General Assembly approaches, France's decision is likely to influence discussions among the approximately 40 foreign ministers attending next week's conference. While more than 140 countries, including Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, have recognized Palestinian statehood, major Western powers like the U.S., U.K., and Germany have yet to follow suit. Macron's move may encourage other nations to reconsider their positions, though resistance from Israel and its allies suggests that the path to a two-state solution remains fraught with challenges.</p>
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