UN – France Officially Recognizes the State of Palestine: A Historic Diplomatic Turning Point Under High Tension
York, September 22, 2025 – At the United Nations rostrum, Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech this Monday, September 22, 2025, that will mark a turning point in the history of French diplomacy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince
· 4 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
New York, September 22, 2025 – At the United Nations rostrum, Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech this Monday, September 22, 2025, that will mark a turning point in the history of French diplomacy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The President of the Republic announced that France officially recognizes the State of Palestine, a gesture that is at once symbolic, political, and highly strategic in a context of war in Gaza, a stalled peace process, and exacerbated international rivalries.
A Grave and Solemn Speech
“We are here because the time has come,” Emmanuel Macron declared in a firm voice. Evoking “urgency everywhere,” he called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and an immediate halt to the bombings in Gaza, emphasizing that “the time for peace has come, for we are moments away from being unable to seize it.”
The head of state recalled the 1947 promise, when the UN voted for the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, emphasizing that “the promise of an Arab state remained unfulfilled.”
“Faithful to my country’s historic commitment to peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, I declare that France today recognizes the State of Palestine,” he continued, to sustained applause from the delegations present.
A Long and Delicate Process
This decision culminates months of diplomatic signals. After trips to the Middle East in the spring and a debate in the French Parliament in June, Paris had hinted that recognition would occur at the September General Assembly.
The latest Israeli offensives in Gaza and the deadlock in negotiations accelerated the timeline. France thus joins 16 European Union member states, including Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta, which now recognize a Palestinian state, joining the majority of UN countries (151 out of 193).
Contrasting International Reactions
While applause erupted in the General Assembly hall, reactions outside the rostrum reflected a deeply divided world. In New York, Palestinian officials, particularly from Fatah, hailed it as a “first step” towards lasting peace.
“This recognition is the fruit of more than a century of resistance,” declared Jibril Rajoub, the movement’s secretary-general. Members of the Palestinian Authority urged the international community to “take its responsibilities” to end the war.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also insisted on the urgency of a just settlement: “Tanto Israel, quanto a Palestina têm o direito de existir. Trabalhar para efetivar o Estado palestino é corrigir uma assimetria que compromete o diálogo e obstrui a paz. We salute the countries that have recognized Palestine, as Brazil did in 2010.”
Lula also announced strengthened control over imports from illegal settlements and the continued suspension of defense equipment exports “that could be used in crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.”
In contrast, Washington expressed its disapproval. Donald Trump, expected at the UN rostrum on Tuesday, had already warned: “We must not give in to Hamas’s demands.”
The American president defended the United States’ role as a guarantor of Israel’s security and recalled that his country had recently vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a speech where he positioned himself as a peacemaker, Trump declared:
“After ending all these wars (…) everyone says I should receive the Nobel Peace Prize (…) but for me, the real reward will be the sons and daughters who can grow up with their father and mother, because millions of people are no longer killed in endless wars.
What matters to me is not winning awards. It’s saving lives. We have saved millions and millions of lives with these seven wars, and we are still working on others.” Paris Shows Firmness Facing threats of diplomatic retaliation from Israel, the French executive responded unambiguously:
“France will not be intimidated. We are ready, we will respond,” the government announced. A New York Episode Worthy of a Film After his speech, Emmanuel Macron experienced an unusual scene that set social media ablaze. His presidential motorcade found itself blocked by the security detail surrounding Donald Trump. The French president, amused, ended up calling his American counterpart directly from the street, joking that he had to “wait in the streets because of him.” Unable to reach his car, he finished on foot, escorted by his bodyguards, greeting passersby and taking selfies before heading to an official dinner. Some New Yorkers even kissed him on the forehead, an image that quickly went viral. Major Geopolitical Stake For Paris, this recognition aims to revive the two-state solution, currently weakened by the expansion of Israeli settlements and military escalation. Emmanuel Macron insisted that this decision is also “a defeat for Hamas,” excluded from the diplomatic process. It remains to be seen whether this symbolic step will lead to concrete negotiations. France plans to intensify its efforts within the UN, in coordination with its European and Arab partners, to obtain a lasting ceasefire and promote the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian discussions. A historic gesture, but also a diplomatic risk. By recognizing the State of Palestine, France intends to exert influence in a conflict that, for over 75 years, has remained one of the most complex and sensitive on the international stage.
“After ending all these wars (…) everyone says I should receive the Nobel Peace Prize (…) but for me, the real reward will be the sons and daughters who can grow up with their father and mother, because millions of people are no longer killed in endless wars.
What matters to me is not winning awards. It’s saving lives. We have saved millions and millions of lives with these seven wars, and we are still working on others.” Paris Shows Firmness Facing threats of diplomatic retaliation from Israel, the French executive responded unambiguously:
“France will not be intimidated. We are ready, we will respond,” the government announced. A New York Episode Worthy of a Film After his speech, Emmanuel Macron experienced an unusual scene that set social media ablaze. His presidential motorcade found itself blocked by the security detail surrounding Donald Trump. The French president, amused, ended up calling his American counterpart directly from the street, joking that he had to “wait in the streets because of him.” Unable to reach his car, he finished on foot, escorted by his bodyguards, greeting passersby and taking selfies before heading to an official dinner. Some New Yorkers even kissed him on the forehead, an image that quickly went viral. Major Geopolitical Stake For Paris, this recognition aims to revive the two-state solution, currently weakened by the expansion of Israeli settlements and military escalation. Emmanuel Macron insisted that this decision is also “a defeat for Hamas,” excluded from the diplomatic process. It remains to be seen whether this symbolic step will lead to concrete negotiations. France plans to intensify its efforts within the UN, in coordination with its European and Arab partners, to obtain a lasting ceasefire and promote the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian discussions. A historic gesture, but also a diplomatic risk. By recognizing the State of Palestine, France intends to exert influence in a conflict that, for over 75 years, has remained one of the most complex and sensitive on the international stage.
