France officially declares recognition of Palestine in September 2025
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In a significant move, French President Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday evening, Thursday, July 24, that France will officially recognize the state of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, scheduled for next September.
The announcement came through a statement published by Macron on his accounts on the platforms 'X' and 'Instagram', in which he affirmed that this decision comes 'in fulfillment of France's historical commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East', indicating that he will announce the recognition officially during his anticipated speech before the General Assembly.
Macron stated that French recognition of the state of Palestine aims to support lasting peace in the region, emphasizing that France seeks to build a viable, demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and contributes to the security and stability of the entire Middle East.
He added that there is an urgent need to end the ongoing war in Gaza and save civilian lives.
The French President sent an official message to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stating that this step constitutes a decisive contribution from France towards peace, indicating that Paris will work to rally its international partners willing to support this path.
On the other hand, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed Macron's announcement, considering it a French commitment to international law, and thanked Saudi Arabia for what he described as 'the great effort it made with France to achieve this recognition'.
France is the largest and strongest European country to announce its intention to recognize the state of Palestine. So far, 142 countries around the world have recognized Palestine, according to an Agence France-Presse tally, amid clear rejection from the United States and Israel of this recognition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the French step as a 'existential threat to Israel', while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the French decision is 'reckless' and strongly rejected by Washington.
On the other hand, France and Saudi Arabia are preparing to co-chair a new international conference focusing on reviving the two-state solution, after it was postponed in June due to the military escalation between Israel and Iran, while a ministerial preparatory meeting on the same file will be held in New York on July 28 and 29.
