France Formally Recognises Palestinian State

“What we want is one unified state without weapons,” he said.

Abbas also condemned Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel and addressed Israelis, saying: “Our future and yours depends on peace. Enough violence and war.”

Macron said France was ready to contribute to a “stabilisation mission” in Gaza and called for a transitional administration involving the PA that would oversee the dismantling of Hamas.

He said France would only open an embassy to a Palestinian state when all the hostages being held by Hamas are released and a ceasefire had been agreed.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Dannon, spoke to reporters shortly before Macron’s announcement.

Dannon said a two-state solution was taken “off the table” after the 7 October attack and called this week’s talks at the UN a “charade”. He also refused to rule out Israel annexing the occupied West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the River Jordan, and President Isaac Herzog said recognising one would only “embolden the forces of darkness”.

Ahead of Macron’s announcement, the Palestinian and Israeli flags were displayed on the Eiffel Tower on Sunday night. A number of town halls in France also flew Palestinian flags on Monday, despite a government order to local prefects to maintain neutrality.

Pro-Palestinian protests also took place in some 80 towns and cities across Italy, where Giorgia Meloni’s government said recently it could be “counter-productive” to recognise a state that did not exist.

In Germany, the government has said Palestinian statehood is not currently up for debate, and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul explained as he left for New York on Monday that, “For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. But this process must begin now”.