France joins 147 countries as it moves to formally recognise Palestine as Gaza war rages on

France's decision to recognise Palestine comes amid European anger towards the ongoing war in Gaza and Israeli actions in the Palestinian territory.

Published on: Jul 25, 2025, 06:59:29 IST

By Danita Yadav

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In another upset for Israel, France announced it is working towards the formal recognition of the state of Palestine.

A total of 147 countries out of 193 member states of the United nations have officially recognised the state of Palestine. France now plans to join this list. (REUTERS)

Taking to X on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France will formally recognise the state of Palestine in September during the United Nations General Assembly.

“In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron said.

France's decision to recognise Palestine comes amid European anger towards the ongoing war in Gaza and Israeli actions. This move also comes after France, the UK, Australia, Canada and other key Israeli allies issued a joint statement condemning aid restrictions across the Gaza Strip.

In this joint statement, the countries called for the Gaza war to end now.

The Palestinian Authority has praised France's decision. In response to the letter, PA president Mahmoud Abbas ' deputy said that Paris' move to recognise Palestine shows its commitment towards international law.

"This position reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state,” said Sheikh.

The US and Israel have rejected this decision, with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the move a “reward for terror.”

France joins 147 others in move to recognise Palestine

A total of 147 countries out of 193 member states of the United nations have officially recognised the state of Palestine. This includes the Holy See, which is the governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.

Following the first Intifada, in 1988, over 80 countries, mainly from the Global South such as India, Russia and more, moved to officially recognise the state of Palestine.

By 2011, all African nations, barring Eritrea and Cameroon, officially recognised Palestine.

Also Read | After France's move, pressure to recognise Palestine statehood mounts on UK PM

In 2014, Sweden became the first Western European country to recognise Palestine. 10 years later, due to the war in Gaza, more European nations are now working towards recognising the state of Palestine.

In the past year, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Armenia, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, and Slovenia have officially recognised Palestine. Countries such as Malta, Belgium, and even the UK are now heavily considering the official recognition of the Middle Eastern state.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.