France to Recognize Palestinian State in September, Macron Announces

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine this September, aligning the move with the country’s long-standing commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. 

The recognition is expected to be officially declared during Macron’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In a message posted on the social media platform X, Macron said he had communicated the decision in a formal letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “I hope this recognition will help advance a durable peace in the Middle East,” Macron wrote, emphasizing France’s historical stance in favor of a two-state solution.

“French citizens want peace,” Macron added. “It is our collective duty—with Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners—to demonstrate that peace is possible.”

The move follows months of diplomatic engagement between France and key regional players, including the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia, which has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian statehood.

Palestinian Authority Secretary-General Hussein Al-Sheikh welcomed the announcement and thanked President Macron for what he called a reaffirmation of France’s “principled position” on Palestinian rights.

“We deeply appreciate the message sent by President Macron to President Abbas and France’s commitment to recognizing the State of Palestine,” Al-Sheikh said on X.

Macron stressed that his government's immediate focus is on ending the war in Gaza, providing humanitarian relief, and securing the release of all captives.

“There must be an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages,” Macron said, adding that the international community must now deliver large-scale humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population.

France’s decision follows similar moves earlier this year by Spain, Ireland, and Norway, who formally recognized Palestinian statehood in a coordinated effort amid ongoing violence and diplomatic gridlock.

Though the United States and some major EU powers have refrained from formal recognition, support has been growing across the Global South and within international institutions for renewed momentum toward a two-state solution.

According to Macron’s office, the official recognition will be declared during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, placing the move on the world stage just months before France assumes a rotating seat on the UN Security Council in early 2026.

While Israel has previously criticized unilateral recognition moves, France’s action—backed by Arab and European diplomacy—adds weight to a shifting international landscape increasingly supportive of Palestinian sovereignty.