French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognize Palestinian statehood, despite opposition from Israel and the US. The move comes as humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, with Palestinian patients visiting a hospital near the border.
Macron’s decision was made after months of talks with Saudi Arabia, Britain, and Canada to gain support for recognition. However, London and Ottawa declined to join, leaving Macron to go it alone.
The French president had previously discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump stated that France’s move doesn’t “carry any weight” but described Macron as a “good guy”.
Macron’s announcement is linked to a rescheduled United Nations conference on a roadmap to a viable Palestinian state, which will take place in September. The event will feature heads of state and government, where Macron plans to announce formal recognition.
Analysts say Macron used the carrot of recognition to extract concessions from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other regional players. Others argue that symbolic recognition may not lead to a functioning Palestinian state when the war in Gaza ends.
French officials point to intense Israeli lobbying efforts to prevent Macron’s move, with Netanyahu warning France against scaling back intelligence-sharing or complicating Paris’ initiatives. However, French officials believe Netanyahu would pursue annexation of parts of the West Bank regardless of what France does on recognition.
The announcement comes as Israel’s parliament voted in favour of a non-binding declaration urging the government to apply Israeli law to the West Bank, widely seen as a de facto annexation of the territory.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/frustration-gaza-alarm-drove-macron-go-it-alone-palestine-recognition-2025-07-26