US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington “strongly opposes” French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, while US President Donald Trump’s administration announced it would not participate in the upcoming United Nations conference aimed at a two-state solution for the Palestinians.

Rubio, late Thursday, on the X network criticized Macron’s decision, calling it a “reckless decision” and saying it “only serves Hamas propaganda and hinders peace.”

The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th. — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 25, 2025

Earlier, Macron had stated that he would formalize France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

“In line with the historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on the X network.

Currently, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state. However, several influential Western countries – including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany – have refused to do so.

European Union members such as Norway, Ireland and Spain announced in May that they had begun the process of recognizing the Palestinian state.

But Macron’s decision would make France – one of Israel’s closest allies and a member of the G7 – the largest and perhaps most influential European state to recognize Palestine.

Fidèle à son historical engagement pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j’ai décidé que la France reconnaitra l’État de Palestine. J’en ferai l’annonce solemnnelle à l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… pic.twitter.com/7yQLkqoFWC — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision, saying that such a step “rewards terrorism and risks creating another Iranian vassal.”

“A Palestinian state under these conditions would be a platform for the destruction of Israel, not for peaceful coexistence with it,” Netanyahu said on the X network.

Although the official US position traditionally supports a two-state solution, President Donald Trump himself has expressed doubts about its feasibility. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has suggested that the US could “take control” of Gaza, displacing over two million Palestinians from the territory and turning it into a “Middle Eastern riviera.”

Trump’s plan has been condemned by many human rights organizations, Arab countries, the Palestinians, and the UN, describing it as a form of “ethnic cleansing.”

We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a… — Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 24, 2025

In June, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, stated that he no longer believes that an independent Palestinian state is an objective of US foreign policy.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce responded by saying that Huckabee “speaks for himself” and that policy decisions rest with Trump and the White House.

On Thursday, State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott said the United States would not attend the upcoming UN conference on the two-state solution. The conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to be held between July 28 and 30 and aims to develop a plan to end the decades-long conflict and recognize a Palestinian state.

Pigott told reporters he had nothing new to add, except that Washington “will not be present.”

International pressure is mounting on Israel to end the devastating war in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, where some 1.139 people were killed and over 200 others were taken hostage and sent to the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s response, which has now lasted 21 months, has resulted in the deaths of almost 60 Palestinians and the injury of over 144 others.

Months of ceasefire talks, brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have yet to produce an agreement.

On Monday, 28 countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan and several European states, issued a joint statement calling on Israel to “immediately stop the war” in Gaza.

That statement also condemned the “drop-by-drop delivery of aid” as well as the “inhumane killings of civilians, including children, trying to meet basic needs for water and food.” / Telegraph/

File photo of French President Emmanuel Macron and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas taken on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2024.

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Macron, who unveiled the decision on social media, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France’s intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition and work to convincing other partners to follow suit.

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“True to 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.

“I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”

Read moreFrench President Macron says France will recognise Palestine as a state

Home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities, France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state, potentially fuelling a movement so far dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel.

The news sparked anger in Israel and Washington.

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again © France 24 08:32

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision by one of Israel’s closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.”

In a post on X, he added, “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.

“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”

Read moreFrance bears the brunt of Israel’s isolation ire

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of a “Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence.”

In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “strongly rejects (Macron’s) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly.”

In a post on X, he said, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

“The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X. © Screenshot, FRANCE 24

France said that its plan to formally recognise a Palestinian state runs counter to the stance held by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognising Palestine, France goes against that terrorist organisation,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote Friday on X.

“By recognising Palestine, France goes against (Hamas),” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. © Screenshot, FRANCE 24

Spain, Saudi Arabia welcome decision

Earlier, Canada also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its “failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza” and reiterating support for a two-state solution.

Carney also accused Israel of violating international law over the blocking of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

“Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith,” he added.

“We reiterate our calls for Hamas to immediately release all the hostages, and for the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country already recognises Palestinian statehood, welcomed Macron’s announcement.

“Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution,” said the Socialist leader and outspoken critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

“I welcome the fact that France joins Spain and other European countries in recognising the State of Palestine,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X. © Screenshot, FRANCE 24

The Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed Macron’s “historic decision”.

“The Kingdom reiterates its call for all countries that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to take similar positive steps and adopt serious positions that support peace and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

In a diplomatic cable in June, the United States said it opposed steps to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, even saying it could go against US foreign policy interests and draw consequences.

In June, Washington’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a US foreign policy goal.

President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a US takeover of Gaza in February, that was condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing”.

Read moreTrump says US will take over Gaza Strip, create ‘Riviera of the Middle East’

Macron had been leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state for months as part of a bid to keep the idea of a two-state solution alive, despite the pressure not to do so.

French officials initially weighed up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia had planned to co-host in June to lay out parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel’s security.

The conference was postponed under US pressure and after the 12-day Israel-Iran air war began, during which the closure of regional airspace made it hard for representatives of some Arab states to attend.

It was rescheduled and downgraded to a ministerial event on July 28 and July 29, with a second event taking place with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Creating momentum

The decision to make the announcement ahead of next week’s conference aimed to give the French team at the United Nations a framework to work with other countries that are also considering recognising a Palestinian state or have misgivings in doing so.

Diplomats say Macron has faced resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada over his push for the recognition of a Palestinian state. About 40 foreign ministers will be in New York next week.

Israeli officials have spent months lobbying to prevent what some have called “a nuclear bomb” for bilateral ties.

Sources familiar with the matter say Israel’s warnings to France have ranged from scaling back intelligence sharing to complicating Paris’ regional initiatives – even hinting at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank.

Israel has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and says recognising a Palestinian state now would be equivalent to rewarding Hamas.

Thanking France, the Palestinian Authority’s Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said on X that Macron’s decision reflected “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.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)

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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington “strongly rejects” French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state, as the administration of President Donald Trump announced it would not attend an upcoming United Nations conference seeking a two-state solution for Palestinians.

Posting on X late on Thursday, Rubio criticised Macron’s “reckless decision”, which he claimed “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace”.

Earlier, Macron had said he would formalise France’s decision to officially recognise a Palestinian state at the UN’s General Assembly in September.

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“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 wrote on X.

At least 142 countries out of the 193 members of the UN currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state. But several powerful Western countries – including the US, the United Kingdom and Germany – have refused to do so.

Fellow European Union members Norway, Ireland and Spain indicated in May that they had begun the process to recognise a Palestinian state.

But Macron’s decision would make France – one of Israel’s closest allies and a G7 member – the largest and arguably most influential country in Europe to make the move.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision, saying such a move “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy”.

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“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it,” he said in a post on X.

“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” Netanyahu added.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also described the move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism”. He added that Israel would not allow the establishment of a “Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence”.

While supporting a two-state solution remains the long-held official stance of the US, President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about its viability. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump suggested the US could “take over” Gaza, displace the territory’s more than two million Palestinian population, and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.

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Trump’s plan has been condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN as tantamount to “ethnic cleansing”.

In June, Washington’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a US foreign policy goal.

His comments prompted Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce to say Huckabee “speaks for himself” and policy-making is a matter for Trump and the White House.

On Thursday, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the US will not attend an upcoming conference set to be held at the UN on the two-state solution. The conference – co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, and scheduled to take place between July 28-30 – seeks to chart a roadmap to end the decades-long conflict and recognise a Palestinian state.

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Speaking to reporters, Pigott said there was “nothing further” to say about the issue other than that Washington “will not be in attendance”.

There is mounting pressure on Israel to end its deadly war on Gaza, waged in the wake of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel, which saw some 1,139 people killed and more than 200 captives taken to the Palestinian enclave.

Israel’s subsequent 21-month assault on Gaza has resulted in almost 60,000 Palestinians being killed, with a further 144,000 wounded.

Months-long ceasefire negotiations – brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar – have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.

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On Monday, 28 countries – including the UK, Japan and numerous European nations – issued a joint statement telling Israel the war on Gaza “must end now”.

The joint statement also condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food”.

Emmanuel Macron said France would recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September

At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally — though Israel and the United States strongly oppose the move.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “reckless decision (that) only serves Hamas propaganda”.

“It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” he wrote on X, alluding to the Islamist militant group’s attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza.

Several countries have announced plans to recognise statehood for the Palestinians since Israel launched a bombardment of Gaza nearly two years ago in response to the Hamas attacks.

Macron’s announcement drew immediate anger from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it “rewards terror” and poses an existential threat to Israel.

Netanyahu said in a statement that the decision “risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became”, which would be “a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it”.

Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, saying it “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”.

Hamas hailed Macron’s pledge as a “positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination”.

“We call on all countries of the world –especially European nations and those that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine — to follow France’s lead,” it added.

‘Urgent priority’

International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings of mass starvation.

Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for Gaza’s deepening hunger crisis, which the World Health Organization has called “man-made” and France blamed on an Israeli “blockade”.

Macron said the “urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population”.

“We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” he wrote on social media.

On the streets of the occupied West Bank, Palestinians told AFP that they hoped other countries would now follow suit.

Mahmoud al-Ifranji called France’s pledge “a moral commitment” and a “political victory for the Palestinian people”.

Another man, Nahed Abu Taima, said he hopes France’s decision will help lead to peace.

“This recognition will lead to the recognition of Palestine by a number of countries in Europe and the world,” he added.

‘Path’ to statehood

Macron said he intended to make the announcement at the UN General Assembly in September.

International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip © Eyad BABA / AFP

While France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state, others have hinted they could do the same.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would hold a call on Friday with counterparts in Germany and France on efforts to stop the fighting, adding that a ceasefire would “put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state”.

Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country already recognises Palestinian statehood, welcomed Macron’s announcement.

“Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution,” the Socialist leader, an outspoken critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, wrote on X.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry hailed Macron’s announcement as “historic” and urged other countries to follow suit.

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris in a post on X called France’s move “the only lasting basis for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

© 2025 AFP

Watch again as the first freed hostages arrived at the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel on Sunday (19 January) after being released as part of the Hamas ceasefire.

The Israeli military confirmed it had received the first three hostages and they are being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.

British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, was among those abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, as well as Romi Gonen, 24, who was ambushed as she tried to escape from the Supernova Festival.

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Veterinary nurse Doron Steinbrecher, 31, who was in her apartment in southern Israel when Hamas attacked is also set for release.

A six-week initial ceasefire phase includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. Hamas will release female hostages and under 19s first, followed by men over 50.