President Emmanuel Macron has formally recognised Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, joining the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia in a coordinated diplomatic push that marks a significant break with the United States and Israel.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, Macron declared that France could “no longer wait” to recognise Palestine, warning that the world was “just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace” in the Middle East.
“We can no longer wait,” Macron told delegates, condemning the ongoing war in Gaza whilst calling for the immediate release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. “Nothing justifies the ongoing war. Everything compels us to bring it to a definitive end.”
The French president’s announcement follows Sunday’s coordinated recognition by Britain, Canada and Australia, making France the largest Western power to formally recognise Palestinian statehood. The move represents a watershed moment in international diplomacy, with four major Western allies now breaking from the United States’ position.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the UK was recognising Palestine “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution.” The Foreign Office immediately updated its travel advice webpage, changing references from “Occupied Palestinian Territories” to “Palestine.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared his country “recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed his nation’s recognition was part of “a coordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution.”
Portugal also joined the diplomatic initiative on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel confirming recognition at the UN headquarters, calling it “the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy.”
The coordinated announcements have drawn fierce condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed that a Palestinian state “will not happen” and accused the recognising nations of giving “a huge reward to terrorism.”
“I have a clear message to those leaders recognising a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7th: you are giving a massive prize to terror,” Netanyahu stated. “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Netanyahu announced that Israel’s formal response would come after his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump on September 29, with reports suggesting Israel may consider annexing parts of the West Bank in retaliation.
The UK government has warned Israel against any annexation moves, with diplomatic sources confirming Britain has communicated its strong opposition to any retaliatory territorial actions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the recognitions as “infuriating and immoral,” arguing they reward Hamas following the October 7 attacks and encourage terrorism whilst violating agreements with Israel.
The United States has strongly rejected the recognition moves. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called France’s decision “reckless,” stating it “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace” whilst constituting “a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the recognitions, thanking Macron and other leaders for supporting “the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
Hamas also hailed the moves as “positive steps” and urged all countries to follow suit, though the recognising nations have been explicit that Hamas would have no role in any future Palestinian state governance.
The diplomatic momentum comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that Israeli attacks have killed 61 people in the past day alone, bringing the total death toll since October 7, 2023, to 65,344.
Macron emphasised that recognition must be accompanied by concrete actions, including an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, massive humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the demilitarisation of Hamas.
France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a conference at the UN this week focused on implementing a two-state solution. French officials indicate more countries are expected to announce recognition during the General Assembly sessions.
The recognitions bring to approximately 147 the number of UN member states that recognise Palestine, though this does not grant Palestine an official UN seat, which requires Security Council approval where the United States holds veto power.
Germany, Italy, and Japan have indicated they will not follow suit, maintaining that recognition should come as part of negotiated peace agreements rather than unilateral declarations.
The coordinated Western recognition represents the most significant diplomatic pressure on Israel since the Gaza war began. It reflects growing international frustration not only with the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza but also with Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and the Netanyahu government’s explicit rejection of Palestinian statehood.
Dr Burcu Ozcelik from the Royal United Services Institute noted the historical significance: “It’s significant for France and the UK to recognise Palestine because of the legacy of these two countries’ involvement in the Middle East. But without the United States coming on board, very little will change on the ground.”
The recognitions, whilst largely symbolic, grant Palestinians increased diplomatic standing and potential for treaty-making. However, they do not fundamentally alter the devastating realities in Gaza or the occupied West Bank.
As the UN General Assembly continues this week, the Palestinian statehood question is set to dominate proceedings, with the international community increasingly divided between those supporting immediate recognition and those insisting it must await negotiated peace agreements.
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