French President Emmanuel Macron made a historic announcement on the recognition of the Palestinian state during a UN summit on October 12, 2025, in New York, following a series of similar decisions by the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. The decision marks a significant shift in international relations, with these countries aligning against the United States in their support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Macron emphasized that recognizing Palestinian statehood is the ‘only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace,’ calling the move a ‘defeat for Hamas.’ He stated, ‘We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.’ The French president also assured the public that the recognition ‘takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one.’
A day earlier, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal had formally recognized Palestine, with the decision coming amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Macron praised these nations for taking ‘the responsible choice, the necessary choice, the choice to opt for peace.’ French president Macron also stressed that the Palestinian authorities must ‘take full ownership of our renewed ambition so that we can, at last, achieve the two-state solution.’
Earlier in the month, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly supported a resolution calling for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. However, the United States, along with a few small Pacific island nations, including Palau, Tonga, Micronesia, and Nauru, opposed the measure. The US has consistently been a vocal supporter of Israel’s position, and its opposition to the resolution highlights the deepening division among global powers on the issue.
The Israeli military campaign began after Hamas’ incursion on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the taking of over 250 hostages. The subsequent blockade of Gaza and the large-scale military operation have led to an estimated 65,000 deaths, according to Gazan health authorities. An independent UN commission has recently released findings describing what is happening in Gaza as genocide. These findings have sparked global outrage and increased pressure on Israel to cease its military operations and allow humanitarian aid to enter the region.
Macron’s move has been widely regarded as a pivotal step in the international effort to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The recognition of Palestine by multiple countries marks a significant shift in global diplomacy and could have long-lasting implications for regional stability and international relations.