French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday formally recognized the State of Palestine in a dramatic announcement at a United Nations summit in New York, placing France at the forefront of a growing Western push for a two-state solution despite objections from Israel and its allies.
“The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it,” Macron declared in a speech that drew thunderous applause inside the UN General Assembly hall.
“The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement.”
The French leader said recognition was a “necessary step” to revive a political horizon for peace, even as he reiterated that the release of hostages kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack would remain a precondition for opening a full French embassy in the new state.
France’s move came alongside similar announcements from Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal, adding to a cascade of recognitions ahead of the summit Macron co-hosted with Saudi Arabia.
The coordinated action piles pressure on Israel as its military offensive in Gaza, launched after the October 7 assault, has left tens of thousands dead and deepened a humanitarian crisis.
Israel reacted swiftly and angrily. “We will take action,” warned Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN.
“It’s easier to come here and give speeches, take pictures, feel like they are doing something. But they are not promoting peace. They are supporting terrorism.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who skipped the summit, has repeatedly vowed that no Palestinian state will ever be established west of the Jordan River.
His far-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have called for outright annexation of the West Bank, a move that would effectively kill prospects for a two-state solution.
The United States, Israel’s most critical ally, also voiced opposition.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump believes recognition “rewards Hamas” and that Palestinian statehood can only emerge from direct negotiations with Israel.
The recognition campaign shows a growing divide among Western powers. While France and Britain pressed ahead, Germany broke ranks, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul insisting that only a negotiated settlement can ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
More than 140 world leaders are in New York for the annual UN General Assembly, though Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was forced to attend virtually after U.S. officials denied him a visa.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, anticipating Israeli retaliation, urged member states “not to be intimidated by threats.”
Analysts caution that recognition, while historic, may be more symbolic than practical without follow-up action.
“Unless backed by concrete measures, recognizing Palestine as a state risks becoming a distraction from the reality, which is an accelerating erasure of Palestinian life in their homeland,” said Max Rodenbeck, Israel-Palestine project director at the International Crisis Group.
The conflict’s human toll remains staggering. The October 7 Hamas attack killed 1,219 Israelis, mostly civilians, while subsequent Israeli operations have claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health officials, figures the UN regards as credible.
Despite the grim backdrop, Macron insisted that international recognition could still open a path to peace.
“This is not the end,” he said, adding: “it is the beginning of a new effort to secure the rights and dignity of both peoples.”
Macron formally recognizes Palestinian State at high-stakes UN summit, defies Israeli warnings