France has officially announced its recognition of the state of Palestine, joining a wave of countries that have recently taken this historic step.
President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement this Monday, September 22, during a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York, at a joint conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia, where other world leaders were also present.
In his speech, Macron declared that "we can no longer wait" to end the war in Gaza, calling the current situation intolerable. He demanded an immediate halt to the fighting and the release of the 48 hostages still being held by Hamas.
Describing peace as a moral and political obligation, the French president emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel is the only path to a lasting solution.
“Nothing justifies continued war,” he said, “but everything compels us to end it finally.”
Macron also announced that France is ready to contribute to an international stabilization mission in Gaza, through the creation of a transitional administration that will include the Palestinian Authority, with the task of dismantling Hamas structures and guaranteeing a transition to civilian and peaceful governance.
However, Macron stressed that France will only open its embassy in the State of Palestine when all hostages have been released and a formal ceasefire has been reached.
He noted that recognizing the rights of Palestinians does not exclude the rights of Israelis, but rather, is a step towards a lasting and just peace for both peoples.
Following his speech, the French president mentioned some of the countries that have already recognized the state of Palestine, including: Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the United Kingdom, Canada and San Marino. He also welcomed the recent decisions of Spain, Ireland, Norway and Sweden to follow the same path, describing these actions as responsible choices in favor of peace.
France's decision to recognize the state of Palestine comes at a critical moment for the Middle East, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas has claimed thousands of lives and turned into a humanitarian crisis with far-reaching global consequences. With this step, Paris signals a new commitment to a political solution to the conflict and the strengthening of an international order based on law and peace.