EditFrance’s Palestinian state recognition plan sparks controversy amid Gaza crisis
The U.S. Secretary of State called the decision "reckless" and a “slap in the face” of the 7 October victims
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday (24 July) that France intends to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, a move he claims aims to foster peace in the Middle East.
The decision, shared via a post on X and a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, has drawn sharp criticism from Israel and the United States, while images of starving children in Gaza amplify global outrage and underscore the urgency of addressing the region’s humanitarian crisis.
Macron’s announcement positions France as the first major Western nation to recognise a Palestinian state, a step that could galvanize a movement previously led by smaller nations critical of Israel. “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine,” Macron stated, emphasising his intention to rally international support at the UN.
The dire situation in Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing military campaign has displaced over 1.9 million people and left 80% of the population facing acute food insecurity, has intensified calls for action. Disturbing images of emaciated children in makeshift camps have flooded social media, prompting widespread condemnation. Humanitarian organizations report that over 20,000 children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition, with hospitals overwhelmed and aid deliveries blocked. The UN has warned of an impending famine, fuelling protests in Europe and beyond demanding an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted aid access.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France’s plan, calling it a “reward for terror” that risks creating “another Iranian proxy.” In a post on X, he argued, “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.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz labelled the move “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” warning it endangers Israel’s security.
The United States echoed Israel’s objections. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the decision “reckless,” arguing it “serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.” He described it as “a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” referencing the 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the current conflict. The U.S. has consistently opposed unilateral recognition, with a June diplomatic cable warning it could contradict American foreign policy and trigger unspecified consequences.
Outcry over Gaza suffering
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has heightened the stakes of Macron’s announcement. Reports indicate that over 38,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, have been killed since October 2023, with entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. The blockade of Canadian-funded aid, as noted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, has exacerbated the crisis, violating international law. Carney reiterated Canada’s support for a two-state solution and called for an immediate ceasefire, urging Israel to respect Gaza’s territorial integrity and Hamas to release hostages.
The outcry over Gaza’s suffering has placed additional pressure on Western leaders. Protests in Paris and London have seen thousands decry the “genocide” in Gaza, with activists displaying posters of starving children to demand accountability. Human rights groups have accused Israel of collective punishment, while Arab states and the UN have condemned proposals like former U.S. President Donald Trump’s February suggestion of a U.S. takeover of Gaza as “ethnic cleansing.”
France’s push for recognition follows months of deliberation, initially planned for a UN conference co-hosted with Saudi Arabia in June. The event was postponed due to U.S. pressure and regional airspace closures during the Israel-Iran air war. Rescheduled for July 28-29 as a ministerial meeting, with a heads-of-state event planned for September, Macron’s announcement aims to build momentum among hesitant allies like Britain and Canada.
Israeli officials have lobbied aggressively against the move, warning of reduced intelligence sharing or West Bank annexation. Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh praised France’s decision as a commitment to “international law and the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination.”
As the UN General Assembly approaches, the global spotlight remains on Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, with Macron’s bold step intensifying debates over peace, justice, and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While the EU as a bloc maintains a unified stance on Israel’s right to exist, individual member states vary in their foreign policy approaches, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some, like France, recently pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state, sparking tensions with Israel.
EU member states recognising Palestine
Nine EU member states have formally recognised Palestine as a state: Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, and Slovakia. Sweden was the first Western European EU country to recognise Palestine in 2014, while the other eight, primarily former Eastern Bloc nations, extended recognition during the Cold War era, largely in the 1980s, when they maintained close ties with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) due to their alignment with Soviet foreign policy.
Countries like Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia) recognised Palestine in 1988, reflecting their historical support for Palestinian self-determination.
Caption: A demonstrator holds a placard reading ‘Free Palestine’ during a solidarity rally for Gaza and Palestine at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, 9 June 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED BADRA
Updated: July 25, 2025 - 06:19
