Middle East Macron's Bold Move: France to Recognise Palestinian State

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of The Times of Israel

 

In a groundbreaking announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September. The formal declaration is set to take place during the UN General Assembly session in New York. Macron's statement on X emphasised the need to restore peace in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.

 

Macron's initiative has received a warm reception from Palestinian officials, with Deputy Hussein al-Sheikh expressing gratitude for France's backing of international law and Palestinian rights to self-determination.

 

However, Israel's reaction was less favourable. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the move, describing it as a reward for terrorism following the recent Hamas attacks in Israel.

 

IIn his detailed post, President Macron reaffirmed France's longstanding commitment to peace in the Middle East. He emphasised the necessity to demilitarise Hamas and rebuild Gaza, alongside recognising Israel. Macron stressed the importance of establishing a viable Palestinian state that aligns with Middle Eastern security.

 

While Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas received a confirmation letter from Macron, Israeli leaders voiced strong opposition. Netanyahu expressed concerns that recognising a Palestinian state in current conditions could endanger Israel, arguing that Palestinians aim for a state instead of coexisting with Israel.

 

The international community has long been divided on the recognition of Palestine. Over 140 of the 193 UN member states recognise the State of Palestine, including several European Union countries such as Spain. However, major players such as the US and the UK have yet to do so.

 

The announcement comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Gaza. Following the October 7 Hamas attack that resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and multiple hostages, Israel launched a counter-campaign.

 

Gaza's health ministry reports over 59,106 deaths since the conflict escalated, alongside devastating damage to infrastructure.

 

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening. Unrwa, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, reports that one in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, with conditions deteriorating daily. Over 100 international aid and human rights organisations have issued warnings of impending mass starvation, urging global intervention.

 

Despite the dire situation, Israel continues to control the supply entries into Gaza. They argue that Hamas's actions are responsible for the humanitarian issues and deny any orchestrated siege. In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the dire humanitarian conditions, describing them as "unspeakable and indefensible."

 

As the situation unfolds, President Macron's bold diplomatic step has stirred international debate. The recognition of Palestine by France could influence the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape and impact ongoing peace negotiations.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-07-25

 

 

[300sd]

Only an idiot would recognize a Palestinian State when a terrorist organization, elected by the inhabitants, is running the place!

 

Of course the Palestinians would be all for this as long as they don't have any Jewish neighbours.

[Captor]

Have they released the Israelian hostage yet? That would be a quick fix to end the conflict. The solution is in their own hands.

[xylophone]

2 minutes ago, Captor said:

Have they released the Israelian hostage yet? That would be a quick fix to end the conflict. The solution is in their own hands.

Absolutely spot on Captor, but Hamas sees the hostages as bargaining tools and without them they basically have nothing.

[Captor]

1 minute ago, xylophone said:

Absolutely spot on Captor, but Hamas sees the hostages as bargaining tools and without them they basically have nothing.

Right! And the conflict continues and most all blames Israel. And students are protesting in other parts of the world and journalist are screaming and weak politicians uses the situation to gain more votes in their countrys and no one points out the real problem and how the whole thing started by Hamas on October 7, 2023. What a wonderful world!

[WDSmart]

Good for him. It's about time that some Western country has stepped up to try to prevent Israel from completely taking over what's left of Palestine. 🖕

[koolkarl]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

Absolutely spot on Captor, but Hamas sees the hostages as bargaining tools and without them they basically have nothing.

Hamas knows as long as the hostages are not released, Israel will keep bombing and Aljazeera will be there filming the worst parts to inflate world pity and anti Israel propaganda.  

[koolkarl]

France is off my bucket list forever and anything made in France.

[Harrisfan]

8 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

France is off my bucket list forever and anything made in France.

Me too. Never ever.

[pacovl46]

1 hour ago, Captor said:

Right! And the conflict continues and most all blames Israel. And students are protesting in other parts of the world and journalist are screaming and weak politicians uses the situation to gain more votes in their countrys and no one points out the real problem and how the whole thing started by Hamas on October 7, 2023. What a wonderful world!

How delusional are you?! Everything that is going on down there can be DIRECTLY laid at the feet of Israel! The 7th of October attack was a result of what Israel has been doing to Gaza for DECADES! Now, that doesn’t justify the actions of Hamas in any way, shape or form, but if you really think that Israel is completely innocent in all of this then you’re either blinded or you haven’t done your homework. It’s that simple! 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

How delusional are you?! Everything that is going on down there can be DIRECTLY laid at the feet of Israel! The 7th of October attack was a result of what Israel has been doing to Gaza for DECADES!

 

   What had Israel been doing to Gaza for decades?

[loong]

18 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   What had Israel been doing to Gaza for decades?

I wondered that myself.

The Palestinians have been carrying out terrorist attacks and firing missiles at Israel for decades.
All Israel has done is taken steps to protect itself.

[loong]

I really don't understand how anyone can recognise a Palestinian state when the Palestinians have not declared a state.

They have been offered a state many times and refused every time.

They also refused offers made before 1967 when they decided to identify as Palestinians to make it seem like they had a legitimate claim. Prior to 1967 they identified as Arabs or South Syrians.

[angryguy]

48 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

France is off my bucket list forever and anything made in France.

Is it surprising? France is muslim now

[spidermike007]

Hooray. Anything that can be done to defy the genocidal state of Israel is a good thing for humanity, and anything that can be done to slap America in the face and wake them up from their support of these extremist policies is also a very good thing. 

[Cameroni]

Vive la France!!!!

 

Vive la Republique!

 

Vive  l'egalite!!!

 

Macron, you beautiful beast, even if you're banging a guy, at least you made yourself useful!

[sungod]

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Macron, you beautiful beast, even if you're banging a guy, 

That's quite normal in France I am told. 

[HappyExpat57]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

France is off my bucket list forever and anything made in France.

 

Are they still calling them Freedom Fries?

[Hanaguma]

13 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Vive la France!!!!

 

Vive la Republique!

 

Vive  l'egalite!!!

 

Macron, you beautiful beast, even if you're banging a guy, at least you made yourself useful!

Go try that in Free Palestine, see how you get on.  

 

[Cameroni]

9 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Go try that in Free Palestine, see how you get on.  

 

 

It's more popular in Israel, I know.

[proton]

Where is this so called Palestine state? 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

   What had Israel been doing to Gaza for decades?

 

If you have to ask that question, you haven't been paying attention.  For decades.

 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

If you have to ask that question, you haven't been paying attention.  For decades.

 

 

   So, Can you answer that question ?

What has Israel been doing to Gaza in the last decade ?

[boloaf]

France has a history of surrendering to invaders.

[proton]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

If you have to ask that question, you haven't been paying attention.  For decades.

 

 

It left Gaza 20 completely years ago, then was continually attacked by hamas

[Chris.C]

2 hours ago, Captor said:

Have they released the Israelian hostage yet? That would be a quick fix to end the conflict. The solution is in their own hands.

Oh, forget to say there are thousands of Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons, with no trial.

Do you, like most Israelis, Jews, think Israelis are superior?

[Chris.C]

More than 140 of the 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine – including Spain and several other EU nations – while major powers like the US and UK still withhold formal recognition.

Macron’s move comes amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 59,000 people have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began. UNRWA reports that one in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, and over 100 international aid organisations have warned of mass starvation unless immediate action is taken.

Israel maintains control over the flow of aid into Gaza and denies imposing a siege – blaming Hamas for the humanitarian crisis. However, condemnation is growing. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the suffering in Gaza as “unspeakable and indefensible.”

France’s recognition of Palestine is bold – but it will only be meaningful if it leads to real change. The world must now push for a just and viable Palestinian state – not another version of the old offers where one side gets sovereignty, and the other gets silence.

[impulse]

Just now, proton said:

It left Gaza 20 completely years ago, then was continually attacked by hamas

 

Israel left Gaza like the Nazis left the Warsaw ghetto.  They just controlled everything going in and everything coming out.

[Chris.C]

1 hour ago, loong said:

I really don't understand how anyone can recognise a Palestinian state when the Palestinians have not declared a state.

They have been offered a state many times and refused every time.

They also refused offers made before 1967 when they decided to identify as Palestinians to make it seem like they had a legitimate claim. Prior to 1967 they identified as Arabs or South Syrians.

Judea Dementia?

About time – but let’s not ignore the pattern. Every time Palestine has been offered a state, the terms have heavily favoured Israel. These so‑called “peace deals” typically offered the Palestinian majority – around 70% of the population at the time – less than 45% of the land. The 1947 UN Partition Plan, for example, proposed giving 55% of historic Palestine to the Jewish minority, which made up just 33% of the population. Later proposals – like the 2000 Camp David Summit – offered Palestinians fragmented enclaves amounting to about 22% of the land, divided by Israeli settlements, with no control over borders, airspace, or resources. In essence, they were offers of a state in name only.

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, Chris.C said:

Oh, forget to say there are thousands of Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons, with no trial.

Do you, like most Israelis, Jews, think Israelis are superior?

 

   Liar .

There are NO Palestinian  hostages in Israeli jails  .

Hamas are the only group holding hostages