Macron: France to Recognize Palestinian State in the Coming Months

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that his country is preparing to formally recognize the State of Palestine within the next few months, framing the move as a “just and necessary decision” aimed at reviving momentum for a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East.

Speaking in a televised interview with a French national broadcaster, Macron stated that France “has long supported the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” and is working with Saudi Arabia to co-host a high-level summit in June, which will focus on recognizing Palestinian statehood as a path to long-term regional stability.

Paris and Riyadh to Co-Host Recognition Summit

“Our objective is to convene an international conference in June, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, to take a decisive step forward—recognizing the State of Palestine,” Macron said. He emphasized that this recognition must be part of a broader diplomatic process that guarantees Israel’s security while enabling Palestinian sovereignty.

This declaration marks a significant development in France’s diplomatic efforts to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and positions Paris as a leading European advocate for the two-state solution amid growing international frustration with the ongoing violence in Gaza.

From Cairo: Macron Rejects Forced Displacement and Hamas Rule

Earlier this week, Macron attended a trilateral summit in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, where leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to ending the war in Gaza and advancing a sustainable political resolution.

During the summit, Macron categorically rejected any forced displacement of Gaza’s population, declaring that such actions “would constitute a grave violation of international law and a direct threat to regional stability—including Israel’s own security.”

He also reiterated France’s position that “Hamas should play no role in the future governance of Gaza,” instead calling for a “renewed Palestinian leadership under the Palestinian Authority” to assume administrative and security responsibilities in the post-war period.

Macron Endorses Arab-Led Gaza Reconstruction Plan

In a pointed contrast to the Trump administration’s previous proposals, Macron voiced strong support for the Arab League’s reconstruction initiative for Gaza, led by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League in March. He praised the plan’s commitment to rebuilding Gaza with dignity and sovereignty, while rejecting any schemes that involve regional displacement or unilateral annexation.

“The only viable path forward is political—not military,” Macron said. “France fully supports the Arab reconstruction framework and urges all stakeholders to join efforts in restoring security and humanitarian access to Gaza.”

Path Forward: Two-State Vision as Strategic Imperative

France’s announcement comes at a time of intensifying regional tension and a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire have resumed intermittently despite international calls for calm.

Macron underscored that the upcoming France-Saudi summit will serve as a platform to revive the stalled peace process and lay the groundwork for a diplomatic consensus on the two-state solution—viewed by much of the international community as the only path to lasting peace.

“Recognition of Palestine is not merely symbolic,” Macron affirmed. “It is a strategic necessity for regional and global security—and an overdue acknowledgment of the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty, dignity, and peace.”