French President Emmanuel Macron declared that he recognizes Palestine as an independent state. It is the first country among the Group of Seven (G7) to publicly support Palestinian independence. This decision comes amid international outrage over the humanitarian catastrophe currently occurring in the Gaza Strip.
According to French media outlets Le Monde and France 24, President Macron stated on the 24th (local time) on social media platform X, "In line with France's historical commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, we recognize Palestine as a state." He added, "This decision will be formalized at the UN General Assembly in September," stating that "stopping the war in Gaza and rescuing civilians is urgent." He subsequently called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, as well as the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
France's decision shows that the patience of the international community in observing the prolonged war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis has reached its limits. In Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians have died while trying to secure food. The Israeli military claimed that it mistakenly fired upon the movements of Palestinian residents, mistaking them for riots. Food distribution centers, initially set up in the name of humanitarian aid, have turned into 'death distribution centers' as relief supplies have been cut off. As difficulties in food distribution have intensified, 43 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza over four days since the 20th. The United Nations (UN) has warned that one in five children in Gaza is still malnourished.
Anti-Israel sentiment within Europe has reached its peak since the Israeli military fired upon Palestinians who came to collect relief food. On the 23rd, Greek citizens blocked the docking of an Israeli cruise ship traveling to Europe. Port labor unions in Belgium and Italy are refusing to ship weapons to Israel. The city of Barcelona in Spain has severed all ties with Israel, including its sister city relationship. Analysts suggest that for France, which adopts 'liberty, equality, fraternity' as its national motto, it was time to make a decisive move, stating that it can no longer remain silent on human rights issues.
A senior official from the French presidency said in a CNN interview, "We will not be the only ones to recognize Palestine in September." This implies that more countries in Europe may follow France in recognizing Palestine as a state. Currently, Spain, Ireland, and Norway have recognized Palestine as a state. The British Labor Party government also supports the 'two-state solution.' If the UK recognizes Palestine as a state following France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, other Western countries are likely to take similar action.
Palestinian officials immediately welcomed the French declaration. Hussein Al Sheikh, an aide to Mahmud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), stated, "France has demonstrated a dedicated decision regarding international law and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people." The armed faction Hamas also described it as "a rightful and positive measure supporting the rights of the Palestinian people."
In contrast, Israel reacted strongly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the decision as "compensation for terrorism," claiming that "Palestine will become a stepping stone to eradicate Israel." Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also derided it as "a shameful capitulation to terrorism." The two countries are expected to engage in a significant diplomatic battle over the recognition of Palestine as a state ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.
Experts analyzed that this decision is a strategic move considering the recently sensitive relations between France and the United States. As France moves to break the G7 consensus with its independent actions, diplomatic friction with the United States, which has consistently supported Israel, is inevitable. The New York Times (NYT) reported, "President Macron is seeking to present Europe's independent vision for the Middle East while distancing himself from the Trump administration, which shows no intention of pressuring for an end to the war." Macron and Trump have had conflicts since taking office over issues such as the Ukraine war and tariffs.
On the other hand, there are cautious opinions suggesting that France alone cannot change the realities faced by Palestine immediately. Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated, "The French declaration is more akin to 'virtue signaling' that does not materially change the environment facing Palestine."
The troubled relationship between Israel and Palestine began in 1947 when the United Nations proposed a partition plan. At that time, the international community suggested establishing a Jewish state and an Arab state in the territory of Palestine, which was under British mandate following World War II, while placing Jerusalem under international administration. However, after Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab coalition countries such as Egypt and Jordan invaded, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war. As a result of the first Arab-Israeli war, Israel emerged victorious, causing about 700,000 Palestinian Arabs to lose their homes and become refugees.
Subsequently, in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip further escalated the situation. Israel established Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which was supposed to become part of a Palestinian state, displacing Israelis there. Moreover, as Palestine became divided between a moderate self-government and hardline factions like Hamas, and with the rise of a hardline right in Israel, peace negotiations lost momentum.