Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision at a France–Saudi co‑sponsored summit in New York, as the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal also moved to recognize a Palestinian state.
• Recognition carries primarily symbolic weight, leaving Palestine’s UN status unchanged because full membership still requires a Security Council nod that a U.S. veto can block.
• Macron tied follow‑through to conditions, saying a French embassy in Palestine could open once all hostages are freed and a ceasefire is in place.
• Israel and the United States condemned the move, with Benjamin Netanyahu warning it endangers Israel and a White House spokesperson calling it a reward for Hamas.
• The Palestinian Authority welcomed the step, and Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas to surrender its arms and accept exclusion from future governance.