New York, September 23, 2025 — The Europe Today: French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Monday that France has officially recognized the State of Palestine, calling the decision a historic step toward achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. The announcement was made at the opening of the high-level international conference on the implementation of the two-state solution, held at the United Nations General Assembly headquarters in New York.
Co-chaired by President Macron and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, representing Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the conference brought together dozens of world leaders to discuss pathways to peace.
“The time has come. This is why, true to the historic commitment of my country to peace in the Middle East, I declare that today, France recognizes the State of Palestine,” Macron said, stressing that recognition of Palestinian statehood is the only way to ensure Israel’s security and enable the two peoples to live side by side.
The French leader underlined that acknowledging the rights of the Palestinian people does not diminish the rights of Israelis. “France has never wavered in standing by Israel, including when its security was threatened by Iranian air strikes,” he said. At the same time, Macron emphasized that recognition of a Palestinian state marks a defeat for Hamas, noting the group’s weakened leadership and military setbacks.
France’s announcement follows similar moves by Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, which recognized Palestine on Sunday. Macron welcomed these decisions, describing them as “the responsible choice, the necessary choice, the choice to opt for peace,” and urged other countries to follow suit.
He further called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, stating that peace in the region is impossible without a two-state solution. Macron also outlined conditions for the establishment of a French embassy in the future Palestinian state, linking it to the release of all hostages held in Gaza and the achievement of a ceasefire.
The French president added that Palestine must be a demilitarized state, and pledged France’s readiness to support an international stabilization mission in Gaza, including training and equipping Palestinian security forces. He highlighted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s commitment to reforms and the removal of Hamas from power in Gaza as key steps toward peace.
