France leads slew of nations recognizing Palestinian state at UN conference

French President Emmanuel Macron gives a thumb up during a high-level meeting of heads of state on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians at United Nations headquarters in New York, on 22 September 202

Liza Rozovsky, The Associated Press and Reuters report in Haaretz on 23 September 2025:

France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that his country officially recognizes an independent Palestinian State, at the Saudi-French conference for a two-state solution at the United Nations General Assembly.

Monaco, Luxembourg, Malta and Andorra followed suit, also formally announcing their recognition of a Palestinian state. Belgium said its recognition of Palestinian statehood will take effect once the hostages are freed from the Gaza Strip.  These nations follow Sunday’s declarations by Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal.

The Netherlands’ foreign minister said it will recognize a Palestinian State, subject to a political process aiming towards a two-state solution. Denmark conditioned its recognition on the return of the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, the disarmament of Hamas, and a reformed Palestinian Authority.

Japan’s foreign minister said his country will respond if Israel continues to act unilaterally. Indonesia’s president also declared that his country will recognize Israel when Palestinian statehood is achieved.

“We must pave the way for peace,” Macron said at the beginning of the planned three-hour session at the United Nations.  “We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” he said before announcing the diplomatic move, drawing lengthy applause from the audience.

French President Emmanuel Macron outlined a framework for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy, subject to factors such as reforms, a cease-fire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza.

“The time has come to free the 48 hostages, to end the war, the massacre and the displacement of people. The time has come for peace,” he added. “We are at the brink of peace becoming unattainable. Some will say it’s too late, some will say it’s too early. But one thing is certain: we cannot wait any longer.”

He went on to say that “nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza. Since October 7, lives have been taken – lives of Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinian civilians suffering from hunger and inhumane conditions.”

Macron welcomed efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure a cease-fire and called on Israel “not to interfere with these efforts.”

Delegates stand and cheer as French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the UNGA meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution, 22 September 2025, New York

Unable to attend the milestone events after being refused a U.S. visa, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the conference via video link. “We call on those who have not yet [recognized Palestine] to follow suit,” Abbas said. “We call for your support so that Palestine becomes a full-fledged member of the United Nations,” he added, promising reforms and elections within a year of a cease-fire.

“Hamas will have no role in governing [Gaza]. Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas said. “What we want is a state with one law and one legitimate security force.  We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas actions on October 7, 2023,” he says, referring to the hostages taken by Hamas.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly said that the two-state solution is a “security imperative” that will ensure peace in the Middle East. “Security will not be achieved in Israel through military force.” According to him, Egypt believes a cease-fire in Gaza can be achieved, and rejects any attempt to expel Palestinians from the enclave. The Egyptian Prime also promised that Egypt will host a summit to discuss the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip as soon as a cease-fire is reached.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, also called on all countries to recognize a Palestinian state.  “We call on all other countries to take a similar historic step that will have a great impact on supporting the efforts towards implementation of the two-state solution,” he said at the UN conference.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the conference, describing the situation in Gaza as “unbearable,” adding that “international law has been violated.  We are trying to find a way out of this nightmare – a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as a shared capital,” he added. “Nothing justifies the horrific attack of October 7 and the taking of hostages. But nothing can justify the terrible collective punishment and killing.”  Guterres also addressed the issue of Israeli construction in the West Bank, saying that “the creeping threat of annexation and settler violence … must end.”

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the recognition of a Palestinian state by several nations, calling it a “historic decision” that could accelerate a two-state solution.  Erdogan accused the Netanyahu government of seeking to make a Palestinian state impossible and of committing genocide. “Netanyahu’s government, from a society once victimized by the Holocaust, now commits genocide against neighbors it has shared land and water with for millennia.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip, saying it amounts to an effort to “exterminate the Palestinian people.”

“The conflict between Israel and Palestine is the paramount symbol of the obstacles faced by multilateralism,” Lula said, warning that “the tyranny of the veto sabotages the very reason for the UN’s existence of avoiding atrocities like the ones that motivated its founding from happening again.”

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez commended the nations calling for a two-state solution, but added, “there is no solution possible when the population of one of those two states is the victim of a genocide.  History will judge us, and its verdict will be brutal with those who perpetrated this slaughter and with those who remain silent or turned a blind eye,” Sánchez added.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “the current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established,” blaming Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the war in Gaza.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon addressed the conference before the start of the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

“While 48 hostages are still held captive by Hamas, world leaders led by Macron are celebrating here with an empty declaration,” he said. “Instead of pressuring the terrorists to release the hostages, they chose to grant Hamas political legitimacy. This is not a move for peace, but a dangerous political theater. When Hamas applauds and welcomes this, it is clear they are on the wrong side of history. Political rewards for terror will not bring peace.”

Speaking ahead of the conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would will respond to the recognition of a Palestinian state after he returns from the U.S., where he will attend the General Assembly, but did not specify how.  I have a clear message for those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7: you are giving a huge prize to terror,” he said. “There will not be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan. For years, I have prevented the establishment of this terror state, despite immense pressure both at home and abroad. We have doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria – and we will continue on this path.”

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