PARIS, France (PNN) - July 26, 2025 - French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognize Palestine as an independent state on Thursday, July 24.
Macron, who initially backed Israel following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, has become increasingly vocal about the devastating toll of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. In line with this, he posted on his official Instagram account that he will formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
"Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine,'' Macron posted on Thursday. "Peace is possible.” His post included a letter addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming France's "historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East."
"I welcome these courageous commitments and highlight in return France's own commitment to fostering the implementation of the solution of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This solution is the only path that can address the legitimate aspirations of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. It must now be brought about as quickly as possible," Macron wrote in the letter addressed to Abbas.
France, which has both Europe's largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, is the largest European country to recognize Palestine as a State.
The Palestinians seek an independent state encompassing the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel after the 1967 war, and Gaza. Israel, however, has been opposing statehood efforts, arguing that they reward Hamas following the deadly October 7 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of over 200 others.
In turn, Israel, along with the Fascist Police States of Amerika (FPSA), strongly condemned Macron for his decision.
"We strongly condemn President Macron's decision," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it. The Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel."
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed the criticism, asserting that "a Palestinian state will be a Hamas state." Defense Minister Israel Katz similarly declared that Israel would "not allow the establishment of a Palestinian entity that would harm our security."
FPSA Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, strongly rejecting Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian State. "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7," Rubio wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed the decision and expressed gratitude to Macron. "This position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state," al-Sheikh said. Foreign ministers from Spain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Jordan also expressed the same thought as al-Sheikh.