PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine in September, becoming the first G7 nation to do so.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Macron said the formal declaration will take place during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
“The urgent priority is to end the war in Gaza and protect civilians. Peace is within reach. An immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and large-scale humanitarian aid to Gaza are essential,” Macron stated, according to BBC.
Palestinian leaders welcomed France’s move, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the decision, saying it “rewards terror” following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The G7, or Group of Seven, includes major industrial nations: France, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan.
Reaffirming France’s longstanding support for peace in the Middle East, Macron wrote: “I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. We must also work toward the demilitarization of Hamas, stabilize Gaza, and build a viable Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and contributes to regional security. There is no alternative.”
He also sent a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, formally confirming the decision.
In response, senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh described the move as a reflection of France’s support for international law and Palestinian self-determination, according to AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, condemned the decision, saying it undermines Israel’s security. “A Palestinian state under current conditions would be a base for destroying Israel—not coexisting with it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hamas praised France’s move as “a positive step in the right direction” and called on other nations to follow suit.
More than 140 of the 193 UN member states currently recognize the State of Palestine. Several EU countries, including Spain and Ireland, are among them.
(With inputs from BBC)
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