French President Emmanuel Macron announced today that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine, calling it a step in favor of peace. He stated that the official declaration will be made in September during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on his account on X.

According to the French leader, the formal announcement will take place during the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the principal forum of global diplomacy.

Macron has raised the issue of recognizing Palestine for several months, amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The conflict has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the densely populated enclave.

“Peace is possible,” Macron insisted, reaffirming his support for the two-state solution. This position is strongly advocated by the French left, although it faces resistance from conservative and far-right sectors.

The president reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory.

In his view, establishing a viable Palestinian state requires the demilitarization of Hamas, ensuring security and the reconstruction of Gaza, and full recognition of Israel.

“There is no other alternative,” Macron stressed, urging efforts at the national, international, and European levels to prove that peace is achievable.