Overview
- President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition at the UN, following weekend declarations by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal timed to a France–Saudi effort to relaunch a two‑state process.
- Israel rejected the move as rewarding terrorism, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing there will be no Palestinian state and far‑right ministers urging annexation and accelerated settlement expansion.
- Recognizing governments tied the step to conditions that bar Hamas from governance, require recognition of Israel, and press for Palestinian Authority elections and institutional reforms; Macron also linked opening a French embassy to a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
- The wave lifts global recognitions to roughly 150–151 states, bringing two permanent UN Security Council members from the West into the column and further isolating the United States in multilateral forums.
- The United States opposed the initiative and blocked visas for some Palestinian delegates, prompting the UN General Assembly to authorize remote participation, as additional European governments signaled plans to formalize recognition during UN week.