President Emmanuel Macron will formally recognise a Palestinian state in New York on Monday, backed by several other European countries, describing France's move as a 'necessity'.
Coming hard on the heels of a decision by the UK, Canada and Australia, Macron said his move would be the 'beginning of a political process and a peace and security plan for everybody'.
France, like the UK, carries considerable diplomatic weight as both a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the G7, and is coordinating the push with Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of this week's UN General Assembly.
Paris will not be joined by two of the other big European states in the G7, Germany and Italy, and not by the US either.
Israel has denounced the move as a reward for Hamas, and its UN ambassador has called Monday's event a circus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the River Jordan, asserting that recognising one would only 'embolden the forces of darkness'.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that his country's move was a 'categorical rejection' of Hamas but claimed it symbolises France's commitment to the two-state solution.
Barrot regarded Macron's declaration as a 'great diplomatic victory for our country'. Paris has stated that Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta are also planning to announce formal recognition, alongside Andorra and San Marino. Portugal made its own declaration late on Sunday.
A number of other European countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, including Spain and Norway last year, but Macron's move is viewed by some domestic commentators as a gamble that might have little impact on the ground.
Public sentiment in France has steered towards pro-Palestinian advocacy, with protests taking place across Italy against their government’s reluctance to accept Palestinian statehood. German officials, on the other hand, claim that the issue of recognition is not currently on the table, indicating a more cautious approach.
As Macron faces criticism from political opponents at home regarding the timing of this announcement amidst ongoing violence, he insists that a structured plan towards a two-state solution is paramount, reiterating France's intent to address the humanitarian crisis while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.
