France has officially recognized a Palestinian state, President Emmanuel Macron announced at a United Nations summit, aligning with a growing number of Western nations ahead of the UN General Assembly.
“Today, I declare that France recognises the state of Palestine,” Macron stated, describing the decision as a crucial move to salvage the prospect of a two-state solution.
“It falls on us, this responsibility, to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution,” he told the gathering, which was notably absent of envoys from Israel and the United States.
The move follows similar recognitions by Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the United Kingdom on Sunday, increasing international pressure on Israel as its military campaign in Gaza continues. The conflict has resulted in over 65,300 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision, hailing it as a “historic and courageous decision that is consistent with international law and United Nations resolutions and supports ongoing efforts to achieve peace.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also spoke at the conference, reinforced the stance, stating that Palestinian statehood “is a right, not a reward.”
He described the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace, after years of stalled negotiations and ongoing violations.
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