France just made a massive diplomatic move that has Israel and the US absolutely furious

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize an independent Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly. This decision makes France the largest Western power and the first member of the Group of Seven to recognize Palestinian statehood. The move comes as reports of starvation continue to emerge from Gaza during Israel’s ongoing military operation.

The announcement has drawn strong reactions from both sides. According to The Washington Post, Palestinian officials praised the decision, while Israel and the United States condemned it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced Macron’s decision, showing the Trump administration’s broad support for Israel.

France just made a massive diplomatic move that has Israel and the US absolutely furious, as this recognition puts additional pressure on other European countries to follow suit. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is already facing growing calls from within his party to endorse a Palestinian state. The decision also strains the already tense relationship between Macron and President Donald Trump, which has already been marked by several awkward diplomatic moments between the two leaders.

What this means for Palestinian statehood recognition

France will join more than 140 other countries that already recognize a Palestinian state. Many of these countries, including China, India, Malaysia and Russia, made this recognition back in November 1988 when the Palestine National Council declared an independent state of Palestine. However, with Washington insisting on a negotiated two-state solution, the United States and much of Western Europe held back from such recognition at that time.

The situation has changed during Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all recognized a Palestinian state last year. According to Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor at Deakin University in Australia, the enormous humanitarian disaster during the Gaza war and Israel’s refusal to negotiate for a two-state solution has made it necessary for many European powers to bypass Israel and recognize Palestine.

For a European heavyweight like France to recognize Palestinian statehood sends a clear signal to the United States, Israel and the international community that what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. Akbarzadeh said there has to be a diplomatic way out of this crisis. The recognition also comes as public support for Israel has dropped in Western Europe, including France, as the war in Gaza has continued for more than 21 months.

The practical impact for Palestinians remains limited. For more than a decade, the Palestinian Authority has pursued full membership of the United Nations, where Palestine was recognized in 2012 as a permanent observer state. However, full membership requires approval by the UN Security Council, where the United States has used its veto power to block Palestinian statehood. 

Eyal Mayroz, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, said the Trump administration’s support for Israel makes a shift in US policy toward Palestinian statehood very unlikely, though he noted it depends on Trump’s calculations and his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize. However, Trump’s recent actions, such as ordering emergency food aid to be burned instead of helping hungry children, may undermine his peace prize ambitions.