Macron Says France Will Recognize Palestinian State

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France will officially recognize Palestine as a state in the coming months, drawing criticism from the Israeli leadership.

In a statement, Macron said he would formally announce the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September, citing the urgency of ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide aid to the civilian population. Peace is possible,” he stated on X.

“There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. Hamas must also be demilitarized, Gaza secured and rebuilt,” Macron stated.

“Finally, the State of Palestine must be built, its viability ensured, and, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it must contribute to the security of all in the Middle East.”

At least 146 UN member states, including Spain and China, have recognized the state of Palestine as of last year, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. That list of nations, however, excludes most of western Europe, along with Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Israel and the United States have strongly opposed the move by the French president.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that such recognition would “reward terror” and risk the creation of what he described as “another Iranian proxy.”

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” Netanyahu stated.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. government strongly rejected Macron’s decision.

“This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” Rubio said in a social media post.

The French leader also included in his post a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, informing Abbas of his decision.

In response, Hussein Al Sheikh, vice president of the Palestinian Authority, expressed his appreciation 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 stated.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Macron for recognizing Palestinian statehood and voiced his support for a two-state solution as a way to resolve the conflict.

The United States and Israel recently pulled their officials out of peace talks with Hamas after the group’s latest response showed “a lack of desire” to reach a truce, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday.

“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said in a statement. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

Hamas said in a statement that it was surprised by Witkoff’s “negative remarks” and said it has shown responsibility and flexibility in negotiations.

It added that it was “keen to reach an agreement that ends the aggression and the suffering of our people in Gaza.”

The U.S. has proposed a 60-day pause in the ongoing war, which will facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Gaza has been at war since Hamas-led terrorists launched a large-scale terror attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to more than 59,000 as of July, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health department, although the numbers do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The Epoch Times cannot independently verify the numbers.

Jack Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this report.