French President Emmanuel Macron stunned the world by announcing France’s recognition of the Palestinian state during a UN summit in New York on September 22, 2025.

Co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, the summit rallied over 140 nations to revive the two-state solution amid Gaza’s escalating crisis.

Macron declared, “France stands for peace and recognizes Palestine’s statehood.” Consequently, allies like the UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, and others followed suit, pushing the total recognizing nations to about 156—80% of UN members.

Furthermore, Macron tied recognition to peace steps: ending the Gaza war, dismantling Hamas’s military wing, and establishing a UN-backed security force.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking remotely, vowed Hamas would have “no role” in governance. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the move as a “prize for terrorism,” while the U.S. called it “reckless.”

Despite this, UN Secretary-General António Guterres supported the decision, citing Palestine’s statehood as a right.

As the UN General Assembly continues on September 23, 2025, the world watches whether this fuels peace or deepens divides.