French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognize Palestine as a state, with the decision to be formalized at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Macron’s declaration comes amid escalating global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people are struggling to survive amidst severe food shortages and violence.
Macron emphasized that the immediate priority is to halt the war in Gaza and safeguard the civilian population. Despite having previously expressed support for Israel, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Macron has grown increasingly frustrated with Israel’s actions in Gaza.
He reiterated France’s commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, stating that recognizing Palestine is essential to achieving this goal.
France’s decision is significant, as it is the largest and most powerful European country to recognize Palestine. Over 140 countries worldwide have already acknowledged Palestinian statehood, including more than a dozen European nations. However, this move may exacerbate tensions within France, which has both the largest Jewish population in Europe and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe.
Macron’s announcement was accompanied by a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, outlining France’s position.
The French foreign minister is also co-hosting a conference at the UN next week to discuss a two-state solution. Macron has been advocating for a broader movement toward a two-state solution. He aims at recognizing both Palestine and Israel’s right to defend itself.
The international community has been increasingly critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with France and over two dozen European countries condemning Israel’s restrictions on aid shipments and the killings of Palestinians attempting to access food.
The Israeli regime has consciously pushed the Gaza strip towards starvation, which is being condemned as a war crime by both state and non state actors around the world.
The Palestinians continue to seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories Israel has occupied since the 1967 war.