France officially recognises Palestinian state

France on Monday recognised the state of Palestine at a UN summit in New York nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Western allies such as Britain and Canada who made the same historic move. "The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it," Macron told the summit at the UN General Assembly hall."The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement," Macron said. "We must pave the way for peace," Macron told a special summit at the UN, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

I declare that today, France recognizes the State of Palestine. pic.twitter.com/8kg6xukuO0

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 22, 2025

Macron outlined a framework for a "renewed Palestinian Authority" under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza. The French recogition came a day after Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal also took the largely symbolic step of recognising Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian Authority (PA) hailed the recognition as a "historic and courageous decision".

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned, "We will take action." "It's easier to come here and give speeches, take pictures, feel like they are doing something. But they are not promoting peace. They are supporting terrorism," he told reporters.