Reckless or historic? World reacts to France's recognition of the state of Palestine
While Palestinian leaders and several Arab states have welcomed the gesture as "historic", Israel and the US have strongly denounced it.
"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. I will make the solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September," Macron wrote on X and Instagram on Thursday evening.
France will also co-chair, with Saudi Arabia, an international conference of heads of state and government aimed at reviving the two-state solution.
The conference, originally scheduled for June, was postponed at the last minute due to the war between Israel and Iran.
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In the meantime, a ministerial-level meeting will be held on 28 and 29 July in New York.
Macron's statement was posted along with a copy of a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, dated 24 July.
"The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide relief to the civilian population. Peace is possible," Macron wrote.
He added that "the demilitarisation of Hamas" was key to securing and rebuilding Gaza.
"We must finally build the state of Palestine, ensure its viability and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East," he added.
If Macron keeps his promise, France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will be the first major western power and the first G7 country to recognise the state of Palestine.
Here are some of the international reactions to the French president's announcement.
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Macron of "rewarding terror" and said the French initiative "risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza has become", serving as "a launching pad for annihilating Israel - not for living in peace alongside it".
"Let's be clear: the Palestinians are not seeking a state alongside Israel, they are seeking a state in place of Israel."
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that "a Palestinian state will be a Hamas state".
Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin, who is also justice minister, qualified the decision as "direct aid to terrorism" and a "black stain on the history of France".
In response to criticism, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X on Friday that by recognising a Palestinian state, France was not rewarding Hamas but rather "proving it wrong".
"Hamas has always rejected the two-state solution. By recognising Palestine, France is proving this terrorist movement wrong. It is proving the peace camp right against the war camp," Barrot posted on X.
United States
The US has "firmly" rejected the French initiative, following reports that it had previously warned countries planning to recognise a Palestinian state against doing so.
"The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace," wrote US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X.
"It is a slap in the face to the victims of 7 October."
Washington has long opposed any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state - including under the previous administration of Joe Biden - favouring a negotiated solution instead.
Last month, Middle East Eye revealed that the US had warned France and Britain against recognising a Palestinian state at the planned UN conference in June.
Palestine
Palestinian authorities in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank welcomed the French decision.
PA President Abbas called it "a victory for the Palestinian cause".
"This reflects France's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to their land and homeland," Abbas said on Friday.
Earlier, Hussein al-Sheikh, senior PA official and vice president of the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the "position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state".
Hamas wrote in a statement: "We consider this a positive step in the right direction to bring justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and support their legitimate right to self-determination."
The group called on "all countries of the world - especially European nations and those that have not yet recognised the state of Palestine - to follow France's example".
Arab countries
Several Gulf countries welcomed the French president's decision, starting with Saudi Arabia, which called on other countries to take "similar positive measures".
"The Kingdom welcomes this historic decision, which reaffirms the international community's consensus on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders," the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
Qatar, which acts as mediator between Israel and Hamas, hailed the move as a "positive development... that will contribute to strengthening the chances of a just and comprehensive peace in the region".
Kuwait also stressed "the need for all other states to take similar measures to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question".
Meanwhile, Jordan called it an "important step".
"The Kingdom appreciates the French President's decision, considering it an important step in the fight against efforts to deny the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state on their national soil," the Jordanian foreign ministry said.
Europe
Ireland, Spain and Slovenia, which had already taken the same step in 2024, along with Norway, welcomed France's decision.
"Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris called France's decision "the only lasting basis for peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians".
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon described it as "a bold step for peace and a two-state solution".
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