Crystal Dike
France has formally recognised a Palestinian state, becoming the latest in a wave of countries to take the step amid mounting international pressure over the Gaza war.
Speaking at the UN in New York on Monday, September 22, President Emmanuel Macron declared that “the time for peace has come” and insisted that “nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza.” He pledged that France was ready to contribute to a “stabilisation mission” in Gaza, proposing a transitional administration under the Palestinian Authority (PA) to dismantle Hamas. Macron added that France would only open an embassy to a Palestinian state after the release of Israeli hostages and the establishment of a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump is due to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23, alongside leaders of Jordan, Qatar and other key regional players. The US skipped a one-day summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia on September 22, which focused on reviving a two-state solution. Germany and Italy were also absent.
France’s move followed announcements on Sunday, September 21, by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognising Palestinian statehood. Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra and San Marino are also expected to follow suit.
Israel condemned the recognition drive, with Ambassador Danny Dannon declaring a two-state solution “off the table” after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and left 251 taken hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no Palestinian state west of the River Jordan, while President Isaac Herzog warned recognition would “embolden the forces of darkness.”
In retaliation for the October 2023 assault, Israel launched a military campaign that has since killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Israeli forces are currently advancing on Gaza City, where famine was confirmed in August.
At the summit, Macron urged the release of remaining hostages and warned against “the peril of endless wars,” stressing that “right must always prevail over might.” Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, speaking for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reiterated that a two-state solution was the only path to lasting peace.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would create a new financial mechanism for Gaza’s reconstruction, adding: “We must all do more. This is why we will set up a Palestine Donor Group.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Gaza crisis as “morally, legally and politically intolerable,” insisting that a two-state solution remained the “only credible path” for peace.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied entry to the US after Washington revoked his and other officials’ visas, addressed the UN via videolink. He condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack, called for a permanent ceasefire, and urged the group to disarm under PA authority. “What we want is one unified state without weapons,” he said.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protests erupted across Italy on September 21, while Palestinian and Israeli flags were projected onto the Eiffel Tower in Paris the same night. In Germany, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said recognition should come “at the end of the process” but admitted the process “must begin now.”