By Desmond Nleya
France has now formally recognised the State of Palestine, joining Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco in a coordinated diplomatic push announced on 22 September 2025 during a high-level summit ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The move—co-convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia—comes as Israel intensifies its war on Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the territory reduced to rubble.
Key Developments:
France’s recognition: Macron declared that “the time has come” and stressed that Palestinian statehood is essential to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
International momentum: The announcement follows recent recognition by Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the UK (a day earlier), and last year’s recognitions by Spain, Norway, and Ireland. In total, 147 of 193 UN member states now recognise Palestine.
Global reactions:
Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President, praised the move but was barred by the Trump administration from attending the UNGA in person.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, reaffirmed that Palestinian statehood is “a right, not a reward.”
Saudi Arabia condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, and even recent strikes on Qatar.
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez argued that peace is impossible while Palestinians “are the victims of a genocide.”
Opposition:
Israel and the United States boycotted the summit. Israel’s UN ambassador called it a “circus.”
The US, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, criticised the recognitions, framing them as a reward for Hamas.
PM Netanyahu has long vowed never to allow a Palestinian state.
What’s Next:
Despite recognition by a majority of UN states, Palestine’s full UN membership remains blocked by the US veto in the Security Council.
France also proposed a renewed Palestinian Authority framework, including an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to prepare Gaza for PA governance post-war.
The UNGA this week, with over 140 world leaders attending, is expected to put the Palestine question at the top of the global agenda.
This surge of recognition marks a turning point: over 80% of the world’s countries now recognise Palestine, creating mounting diplomatic isolation for Israel and its main ally, the US.
