France Recognises Palestinian State as Global Pressure Mounts on Israel

Sept 2025 : France formally recognised a Palestinian state on Monday at a world summit in New York, nearly two years into the war in Gaza. The announcement, made by President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations, aligns France with Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, who took the same step a day earlier. The coordinated recognition marks a significant diplomatic milestone for Palestinians, though its impact on the ground remains uncertain.

Macron’s Historic Declaration

“We must pave the way for peace,” Macron said to sustained applause as he opened a three-hour session at the UN, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. Declaring France’s recognition of Palestine, he framed the decision as a moral and political necessity. For Palestinians, long struggling for international recognition, the announcement was a symbolic boost.

Additional support is expected to follow, with Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, and San Marino set to extend recognition ahead of the UN General Assembly later this week.

Israel’s Sharp Rebuke

Israel strongly condemned the recognitions. Its foreign ministry argued the moves “do not promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilise the region and undermine the chances of achieving a peaceful solution.”

In protest, Israel announced it would not participate in Tuesday’s emergency UN Security Council session on Gaza, citing observance of the Jewish New Year. Officials described the timing as “regrettable.”

Israel faces mounting global isolation over its military campaign in Gaza, where local health authorities report more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. A recent ground assault on Gaza City has intensified casualties and deepened humanitarian concerns, with no ceasefire in sight.

Calls for Peace and Ceasefire

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), warned that recognition must be accompanied by tangible steps toward peace. “The recognition of a Palestinian State doesn’t mean much if there isn’t a ceasefire,” he said. “It must be followed by a genuine commitment to a peace process.”

His comments came as at least 37 more Palestinians were reported killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Monday.

UN Assembly Dominated by Palestinian Question

The Palestinian issue will dominate the UN General Assembly this week, with more than 140 world leaders attending. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be present after the United States denied him and his delegation visas. The General Assembly responded by voting 145 to five to allow Abbas to deliver his address via video link—a move seen as an unusual rebuke to Washington.

Experts suggest that Western recognition of Palestine provides a diplomatic boost, placing Israel under growing international scrutiny. However, they caution that real change may be limited without structural shifts on the ground. Some diplomats have also expressed concern about possible Israeli reprisals in response to the recognition push.

Divergent International Reactions

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reiterated his country’s position that peace can only come through negotiations. “A negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, dismissed the growing wave of recognition. On Sunday, he vowed there would be “no Palestinian state” and pledged to accelerate settlement construction. His far-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, went further, openly calling for the annexation of the West Bank.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan criticised these remarks. “We call on the Israeli government to cease settlement construction and expansion,” he said, warning that projects such as the contentious E1 settlement plan were fragmenting the West Bank and undermining the viability of a two-state solution.

Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister John Swinney urged London to follow recognition with action, including sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the urgency, cautioning against “intimidation by the risk of retaliation.”

Intensifying Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

On the ground, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The enclave’s health ministry reported that two hospitals in Gaza City—Al-Rantissi Children’s Hospital and the Eye Hospital—have been forced out of service due to sustained Israeli bombardments and damage. Residents described Israeli tanks pushing deeper into northern Gaza’s Sheikh Radwan and Jala Street areas, while in Tel Al-Hawa, tanks advanced toward western parts of the city.

Witnesses also reported Israeli forces using explosive-laden vehicles, detonated remotely, to destroy dozens of houses, compounding the humanitarian toll.

Hostage Video Released

Adding to the tensions, Hamas’s military wing released a new video of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel, 24, on Monday. It remains unclear when the footage was recorded. Ohel was last seen in a video released on September 5, and his fate continues to be a source of anguish in Israel.

Looking Ahead

All eyes are now on Netanyahu, who is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday. His remarks will be closely watched for signals on Israel’s stance amid increasing diplomatic isolation and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

While France and its Western allies have delivered a symbolic victory for Palestinians through formal recognition, the immediate realities remain grim. Without a ceasefire and renewed peace negotiations, experts warn that recognition risks being little more than a political gesture. For now, Palestinians face escalating violence, mounting casualties, and an uncertain future, even as their diplomatic cause gains ground on the global stage.

Team Maverick.