Overview

• Emmanuel Macron announced the recognition at a UN gathering co‑presided with Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, framing it as a bid to relaunch diplomacy on Gaza and the West Bank.
• The UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognized Palestine on Sunday, with Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino listed by Paris to follow alongside France.
• The move carries primarily symbolic weight under UN procedures, as a U.S. veto continues to block full Palestinian membership; Paris ties opening an embassy to the release of 48 Israeli hostages.
• Israel condemned the decision, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arguing a Palestinian state would endanger Israel’s existence and reward terrorism.
• In France, the Interior Ministry said 52 municipalities hoisted Palestinian flags despite orders to uphold public‑service neutrality, and administrative courts issued rulings against some mayors with potential financial penalties for noncompliance.