NEW YORK (Realist English). France, together with five other European nations, formally recognised Palestinian statehood on Monday during a high-level summit convened ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Alongside France, which co-chaired the meeting with Saudi Arabia, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco announced recognition of Palestine. Leaders from Australia, Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom — which made the move a day earlier — also addressed the gathering.
“The time has come,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. “It falls on us to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Today, I declare that France recognises the state of Palestine.”
The decision brings the total number of UN member states recognising Palestinian statehood to 153 out of 193. Spain, Norway and Ireland had extended recognition last year, with Madrid also imposing sanctions on Israel for its ongoing war in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcements in a video address, after being denied a US visa to attend in person. He urged other countries to follow suit and pressed for Palestine’s full UN membership.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that Palestinian statehood “is a right, not a reward,” framing it as the only viable basis for peace. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the recognition comes amid “continuing aggression and brutal crimes” by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank.
The United States and Israel boycotted the summit. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the event as a “circus,” while Washington warned recognition would “reward Hamas” and complicate efforts to end the war.
The developments add to mounting diplomatic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly vowed to block the creation of a Palestinian state. More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to local health officials, while Israel faces growing isolation at the UN.
Palestinian statehood is expected to dominate discussions at this week’s General Assembly, with more than 140 world leaders in attendance.