Macron Leads World in Recognising Palestine Israel Deeply Angered

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On September 23, 2025, a major shift took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York when French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognised the State of Palestine. This move encouraged other Western countries including Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal to follow the same path. The announcement came during a summit organised by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at finding a way to stop the war in Gaza that has already taken tens of thousands of lives.

In his address, Macron made a strong appeal for peace. He said the time had come to end the violence, free the hostages held by Hamas, and stop the destruction of Gaza. Macron also explained that France would only open a Palestinian embassy if the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel were released. He stressed that recognising Palestine was not meant to harm Israel but was instead an urgent step to save peace before it is lost.

Israel reacted with anger to this recognition. Leaders in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, especially far-right ministers, warned that they might annex the West Bank to prevent a Palestinian state from ever being created. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, accused countries that recognised Palestine of supporting terrorism instead of peace. Netanyahu himself repeated that Israel would never allow a Palestinian state and promised to expand Jewish settlements. Some ministers even demanded the full annexation of the West Bank. Israel also announced it would not attend the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza scheduled for September 23, citing the Jewish New Year.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, also opposed the recognition. American officials insisted that a Palestinian state could only be created through direct talks between Israel and Palestine. The White House argued that recognising Palestine now would reward Hamas and would not bring real peace. Germany, while critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, also refused to recognise Palestine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said only a negotiated two-state solution could allow both sides to live in peace and dignity.

More than 140 world leaders attended the UN summit, but Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas was not present. The United States denied him a visa, forcing him to join virtually. This decision frustrated many Arab and Muslim leaders who saw it as unfair. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on countries not to be intimidated by the threat of retaliation when making decisions about peace.

The human cost of the conflict remains staggering. The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, killed 1,219 Israelis, most of them civilians. Since then, Israeli airstrikes and military operations in Gaza have killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.

For Palestinians, recognition of statehood is seen as a symbolic victory and a step toward being treated as an equal nation by the world community. But experts warn that recognition alone will not change the reality on the ground unless it is backed by strong political and economic action. The International Crisis Group noted that without concrete measures, recognition might become a distraction from the harsh reality facing Palestinians.

Britain also recognised Palestine during the summit, but its government left room to withdraw that recognition if Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. This shows that Western nations remain divided over how to achieve lasting peace.

The recognition of Palestine by France and its allies is one of the most dramatic diplomatic actions in decades. It signals a shift in Western policy and increases international pressure on Israel, but it also risks deepening divisions since Israel and the United States remain firmly opposed.