French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday formally recognized a Palestinian state at the United Nations, a landmark but largely symbolic step that triggered a wave of similar announcements from other Western nations and drew sharp condemnation from Israel and its allies.
Speaking before the UN General Assembly,at a summit notably skipped by Israel and the United States,Macron urged an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza. “The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from losing the chance to seize it,” he declared. He called for the release of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas and an end to the bombings, massacres, and mass displacement in Gaza.
While hailing the recognition as a significant milestone, Macron clarified that France would not open an embassy to a Palestinian state until a ceasefire was secured and all hostages freed. Even with those conditions, the Palestinian Authority welcomed France’s move as “historic and courageous,” with its delegation rising to give Macron a standing ovation.
France’s decision sparked a cascade of similar recognitions. Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal declared their support for Palestinian statehood, followed quickly by Monaco, Belgium, Andorra, Malta, and Luxembourg,announcements made directly from the General Assembly podium. Combined with earlier recognitions by Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, nearly three-quarters of UN member states now officially acknowledge Palestine.
Israel reacted with defiance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, while members of his far-right coalition renewed calls to annex the West Bank to prevent such a possibility. Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, accused countries recognizing Palestine of “supporting terrorism” rather than peace.
The United States also stood firmly against the move. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump views recognition as “a reward to Hamas.” By contrast, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking to AFP before the summit, argued that the international community “should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation.”
Several of Washington’s closest allies,Germany, Italy, and Japan,chose not to follow France’s lead, despite condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that only a negotiated two-state solution could ensure peace, security, and dignity for both peoples. Britain added nuance to its recognition, saying it would withdraw support if Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.
On the ground, Israel pressed ahead with a major new offensive aimed at seizing Gaza City. Analysts warned that while recognition of Palestinian statehood carried enormous symbolic weight, it might not alter realities without concrete action. Max Rodenbeck of the International Crisis Group cautioned that recognition risks becoming “a distraction from the accelerating erasure of Palestinian life in their homeland” if not followed by substantive measures.
The backdrop remains grim. Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Since then, Israeli military operations have resulted in at least 65,344 Palestinian deaths,again mostly civilians,according to figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN regards as credible.
