Displaced Palestinians move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip, September 22, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s official recognition of the Palestinian State, following Canada, the UK, Belgium, Australia, and Portugal.

A historic step

This historic decision by Western nations, which have been longtime allies of Israel, marks a significant diplomatic turning point for the decades-long peace process in the Middle East and the current Gaza conflict.

Canada, the UK, and France, were the first countries in the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to recognize Palestine, despite opposition from the United States. The UK’s decision came right after US President Donald Trump’s state visit last week, a sign that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government did not yield to pressure from Washington. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said recognition of Palestine is a moral duty and a diplomatic effort to preserve hope for a two-state solution that will allow Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully and securely.

President Macron said the time has come for all parties to face reality in the Middle East and recognize each other’s dignity and legitimacy. Macron proposed deploying a UN peacekeeping force to Gaza to maintain long-term peace and stability.

Wolf-Christian Paes, an expert on armed conflict at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said: “The aim of recognizing a Palestinian state by additional Western powers is to move along the process towards the two-state solution that has been agreed on during the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. But we've seen very little progress over the last two decades. The assumption here is that this symbolic step will somehow create new momentum for a process that will lead towards a two-state solution.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said there are few, if any, sustainable alternatives to a two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine coexist. “Those who stand in the way are obligated to answer a fundamental question. What is the alternative? A one-state scenario where Palestinians are denied basic rights? How is this possible in the 21st century? And let's be clear, statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a high-level meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 22, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Not an easy task

Many in the UN have expressed support for this recognition of the Palestinian State. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan called on all countries to follow the Western example and recognize Palestine.

President of UNGA-80, former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, said the Monday vote by 142 UN member states in favor of the New York Declaration on a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and a two-state solution is a strong message that the majority of the international community wants an immediate end to the Gaza conflict and to grant the Palestinian people the full rights of statehood.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas commended those countries that recognized the state of Palestine. “We call on those who have not yet done so to follow suit. We call for your support so that Palestine can become a fully-fledged member of the United Nations,” said Abbas.

Analysts warn this will not be an easy task for Palestine. Victor J. Willi, Executive Director of the Middle East Institute of Switzerland, said some of the Western nations that have already recognized Palestine acted on moral or idealistic grounds, and others were responding to domestic pressure. But what will these countries do to safeguard Palestinian rights in the face of opposition by the US, who opposes Palestinian statehood?

US President Donald Trump believes Britain and other allies recognizing a Palestinian state is effectively rewarding Hamas for its attack on Israel, the White House said Monday.

Victor J. Willi said: “There is some symbolic shift, maybe a slight legal shift, but on the balance of power, on the larger scheme of things, it will not really change much. But maybe in the long term it will, maybe over the next 10, 20 years. Maybe future historians will look back and say, yes, this started that movement that ultimately led to Palestinian statehood. Maybe. I don't know. We'll see.”

One major concern among the Western nations that have recognized Palestine is Israel’s warning of retaliation. In recent days, many Israeli officials have openly threatened to annex parts of the West Bank currently administered by the Palestinian Authority, a scenario that could further escalate the Middle East crisis.