France to Recognize Palestinian State: Macron’s Bold Move Deepens Global Diplomatic Divide
Macron’s September pledge puts France at odds with key allies as U.S. skips peace summit
Paris, France — July 26, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly this September — a move that positions France as the most prominent Western nation to back Palestinian statehood in the face of prolonged conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“In keeping with France’s historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron posted on X.
France joins over 140 nations — many from the Global South — that have already extended recognition. But as a G7 member, permanent UN Security Council representative, and close Israeli ally, France’s action carries outsized geopolitical weight and could reshape diplomatic calculations within the European Union and beyond.
U.S. Pushes Back, Will Not Attend UN Peace Conference
The United States, now led by President Donald Trump following his return to office in January 2025, has rejected the French-led initiative and confirmed it will not participate in the upcoming UN-backed summit on the two-state solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and scheduled for July 28–30.
“The United States will not be in attendance,” said Deputy State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, offering no further elaboration.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Macron’s announcement as “reckless,” arguing that it “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.”
Trump himself has previously voiced skepticism toward Palestinian sovereignty and has proposed controversial solutions to the Gaza crisis, including forcibly relocating Gaza’s population and transforming the territory into a tourist destination — proposals widely condemned as extreme and unworkable.
Israel: Macron’s Move Is “A Reward for Terror”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned Macron’s pledge, stating that it legitimizes extremists and weakens Israel’s security.
“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launchpad for terror, not peace,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “France is rewarding terror while Israel defends itself.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the move “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” warning that Israel would never allow the creation of a “hostile entity” within its borders.
Europe: Deepening Divide or New Diplomatic Front?
France is not alone. In May, Ireland, Spain, and Norway all announced their intention to recognize Palestine, drawing a line between humanitarian principle and realpolitik.
European Commission officials remain divided, with some seeing Macron’s decision as courageous and others cautioning against splintering EU consensus. Germany and the United Kingdom have so far refrained from recognition, citing the need for negotiated peace.
“France’s decision is a game-changer,” said Dr. Leila Azoulay, a Middle East analyst at the European Policy Centre. “It raises the cost of Israeli intransigence while giving Palestinians badly needed diplomatic momentum.”
Backdrop: War in Gaza and the Failure of Diplomacy
Macron’s announcement comes amid a grinding and deadly Israeli military campaign in Gaza, now in its 21st month. The war erupted following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack that killed more than 1,100 Israelis. In retaliation, Israel launched a sustained military assault that has left nearly 60,000 Palestinians dead and over 140,000 wounded, according to Gaza health authorities.
Aid groups and UN officials have warned of “mass starvation,” infrastructural collapse, and unlivable conditions throughout the enclave. Ceasefire negotiations involving the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar remain stalled.
A joint statement issued this week by 28 countries, including Japan, Australia, and several EU members, called on Israel to immediately halt its campaign, citing “inhumane suffering” and “disproportionate violence.”
Looking Ahead: Turning Point or Flashpoint?
France’s recognition of Palestine is symbolic — but not merely symbolic. It reopens the conversation around final-status issues such as borders, Jerusalem, and the right of return, all while reshaping diplomatic alliances and applying pressure on Israel and the U.S. to recalibrate.
The upcoming UN conference could mark a pivotal moment — or a further descent into diplomatic gridlock, especially without Washington’s participation.
“Recognition does not equal peace,” warned former UN special envoy Nickolay Mladenov. “But it does signal a growing global impatience with endless occupation and unkept promises.”
