France to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN in September

Sunday 24 August 2025 - 08:20

By: Sahili Aya

France to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN in September

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September. He stressed the “urgency of making this solution a reality” to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

“Faithful to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make the formal announcement at the UN General Assembly in September,” Macron wrote on social media.

France will also co-chair, alongside Saudi Arabia, an international conference of heads of state and government aimed at reviving the so-called two-state solution. Originally scheduled for June, the meeting was postponed due to the war between Israel and Iran. A ministerial-level preparatory meeting is set for late July in New York.

Currently, at least 142 countries worldwide have recognized a Palestinian state, though the United States and Israel remain firmly opposed. Macron emphasized that “the urgent priority is to end the war in Gaza and bring humanitarian relief to civilians.”

The French president argued that recognition is essential to building a viable Palestinian state, which, in his words, must be demilitarized, recognize Israel fully, and contribute to regional security. He also confirmed having received commitments from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to hold elections in 2026 and to pursue reconciliation with Gaza under a demilitarized governance framework.

France hopes this move will provide decisive momentum toward peace and persuade other international partners to follow suit. Yet, European countries remain divided, with Germany warning that such recognition could send “the wrong signal” at this stage.

The announcement comes amid failed ceasefire talks in Doha and mounting international pressure on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than two million people live under blockade. Meanwhile, over 70 Israeli lawmakers recently voted in favor of annexing the occupied West Bank, heightening fears of further escalation.