French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognized Palestine during a UN speech, following a similar announcement by UK leader Sir Keir Starmer the day before.

France joined Belgium, Malta, Monaco, and other nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood, prompting Israel’s criticism.

Macron emphasized that recognizing Palestinian rights does not undermine Israel’s rights and called for a renewed Palestinian Authority with conditions such as reforms, a ceasefire, and the release of hostages.

The move was hailed by the Palestinian foreign ministry as historic and bold but is unlikely to change the situation on the ground.

Israel continues its military operations in Gaza following the October 7 attack, with over 65,000 Palestinians killed and ongoing assaults on Gaza City.

Sir Keir Starmer described the UK’s recognition as a commitment to a two-state solution, which Hamas welcomed as a victory for Palestinian rights, the U.S. Sun has reported.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recognitions, calling them a reward for terrorism and reaffirming that there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.