France Formally Recognises Palestinian State at High-Level UN Summit
In a historic diplomatic move, France formally recognises Palestinian statehood during a high-level summit in New York ahead of this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The announcement, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia, also saw Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco declare their recognition of Palestine. This diplomatic milestone follows similar decisions by the United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, and Australia, who formalised recognition just a day earlier.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the summit, emphasised the urgency of reviving the long-delayed two-state solution. “It falls on us, this responsibility, to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution,” Macron said. “Today, I declare that France formally recognises Palestinian statehood.” The move underscores France’s commitment to a peaceful resolution in the region amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians have reportedly died in recent hostilities.
The summit also highlighted a growing international coalition supporting Palestinian statehood, with more than 147 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognising Palestine as of April this year. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that a two-state solution cannot succeed “when the population of one of those two states is the victim of a genocide.”
France Formally Recognises Palestinian
In addition to recognition, Macron outlined a framework for a renewed Palestinian Authority, including the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force to support governance in Gaza. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed France’s recognition and urged other nations to follow suit. Abbas also called for support toward full UN membership for Palestine, reinforcing the symbolic and practical impact of the recognition.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
- Gaza Hamas Collaborators Execution Sparks Global Concern Over Human Rights
- UK Formally Recognizes Palestine State, Aiming to Revive Two-State Peace Solution
Despite the broad international backing, Israel and the United States boycotted the summit, with Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon dismissing the meeting as a “circus.” The US has warned that recognition by Western nations may embolden Hamas, while Israel maintains that such steps undermine peace negotiations. Nevertheless, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that Palestinian statehood “is a right, not a reward,” highlighting the legitimacy of international recognition.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, praised France and the UN for advancing the two-state solution, describing it as the only path to just and lasting peace. He condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, warning that continued violations threaten regional stability.
As world leaders gather at UNGA, the momentum for recognizing Palestinian statehood grows. France formally recognises Palestinian statehood in a move designed not only to assert diplomatic leadership but also to pressure Israel and the US toward meaningful negotiations. Observers note that this recognition could reshape the international approach to resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict and advance the cause of a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.
