NEW YORK, 21 September – France has become the most prominent European Union member to recognise the State of Palestine officially. This historic move has reignited debates inside Europe about how to address Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and the broader Middle East conflict.
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The announcement came from French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the UN General Assembly, where he called recognition a step toward breaking the “cycle of war and destruction.” Macron stressed that recognition of Palestine must go hand-in-hand with a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages captured during the Hamas-led assault of 7 October 2023.
“We must recognise that Palestinians and Israelis are living in twin solitude,” Macron said, urging Europe to embrace the two-state solution as the only viable path to peace.
A Growing Movement Inside Europe
France’s move follows similar recognition by Portugal, Malta, and Luxembourg. At the same time, Belgium announced it would follow once conditions related to hostages and Hamas were met. With these shifts, more than half of EU member states now formally acknowledge Palestine, joining the 150 countries worldwide that already do so.
Outside Europe, the UK, Australia, and Canada also recognised Palestine earlier this week, signalling a coordinated international push to pressure Israel into peace talks.
Faultlines Inside the EU
Yet, the recognition drive has deepened rifts within Europe. Countries like Germany, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic remain opposed, blocking EU-wide sanctions on Israel despite the UN Commission’s finding that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
EU Council President António Costa said the shift shows Europe can no longer avoid addressing Palestinian statehood:
“Today, the State of Palestine has been recognised by the majority of the member states of the European Union.”
The EU’s Two-State Vision
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the bloc’s commitment to the two-state solution. Speaking alongside Macron and Saudi officials in New York, she emphasised that peace requires “a secure Israel, a viable Palestinian state, and the scourge of Hamas removed.”
The EU also pledged to form a donor group to ensure that a future Palestinian state would be economically viable, providing it with infrastructure, governance, and stability to support peace.
Global Impact
France’s recognition of Palestine is expected to put additional pressure on Israel, which continues its military operations in Gaza that have left tens of thousands dead and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. Analysts say the move could mark a turning point in Europe’s foreign policy, forcing even reluctant states to reconsider their positions as public protests across the continent intensify.
For now, the recognition underscores two realities: Europe is increasingly divided on the Gaza war, and France has positioned itself at the centre of a historic diplomatic realignment.
