Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A major diplomatic shift is set to unfold at the United Nations General Assembly in New York as ten countries, including France and the United Kingdom, are poised to formally recognize the State of Palestine. The move seen as a direct response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the stalled peace process, marks one of the most significant collective recognitions of Palestinian statehood in recent years and is already triggering sharp reactions from Israel.
The announcement came from a senior adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, who confirmed that ten nations will jointly announce their recognition of Palestine during a high-level conference scheduled for Monday on the sidelines of the UN summit. The countries involved are: France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino.
President Macron had already signaled France’s intention earlier this year. In a message posted in July on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, he stated:
“In line with our historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make this official during the UN General Assembly in September.”
The announcement has reverberated across diplomatic circles and elicited immediate condemnation from Israeli officials, who view such recognition especially from traditional Western allies, as undermining Israel’s security interests and negotiating position. Tensions spiked earlier this month when Israel reportedly denied Macron a planned visit unless he retracted his stance on Palestinian statehood.
Israel’s reaction has gone beyond diplomatic protest. Several senior Israeli officials have raised the possibility of annexing parts of the occupied West Bank in retaliation. The French presidency, in turn, issued a stern warning: any such move would cross a “clear red line.” According to the Elysée Palace, such annexation would “end all prospects for a negotiated two-state solution” and further destabilize the region.
The joint recognition is being hailed by Palestinian leaders as a long-overdue correction to decades of imbalance in international diplomacy. With peace talks frozen and violence in Gaza worsening, many view recognition as an urgent moral and political act.
The upcoming conference, which coincides with the gathering of over 140 world leaders in New York, will also include high-level discussions on the future of the two-state solution, with Saudi Arabia and France co-hosting meetings on the matter.
The move by France and its allies challenges long-standing U.S. and Israeli policy, which has traditionally opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood outside a negotiated peace deal. Yet amid growing frustration with Israel’s ongoing settlement expansion and military operations in Gaza, even traditional allies are beginning to break ranks.
While the United States is not among the countries recognizing Palestine in this round, the mounting international pressure could shift the diplomatic calculus in Washington and Tel Aviv alike. Analysts note that if other major EU states follow France’s lead, it could lead to a broader recognition movement, one that might force the revival of serious peace negotiations or reshape the geopolitical map of the Middle East.
As the world turns its attention to the United Nations in New York, the symbolic and strategic implications of this recognition will ripple far beyond the General Assembly hall. Whether it triggers renewed diplomacy or deepens divides remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the global consensus on the Palestinian question is beginning to shift.
