France joins UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal in recognising Palestinian statehood at UN-backed conference
United Nations/New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday reiterated that nothing can justify the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, nor the “collective punishment” inflicted on the Palestinian people in their aftermath. Calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, he urged the release of all hostages and the opening of safe, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian corridors.
Speaking at the resumed international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, Guterres warned that the viability of a two-state solution is being undermined by “relentless” settlement expansion, the “creeping threat of annexation” and a surge in settler violence in the West Bank.
“The time for peace has come because we are just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace,” he told delegates. “Let’s be clear: statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. Denying it would be a gift to extremists everywhere.”
France Backs Palestinian Statehood
The conference, held after the General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the first phase outcome declaration in July, saw fresh diplomatic momentum. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would follow suit, a declaration that drew lengthy applause.
“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, which France has supported from Day One,” Macron said. “This recognition is the only solution that will allow Israel to live in peace.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud praised the countries that had recognised Palestine and urged others to “take a similar historic step.” Such recognition, he said, would “support efforts towards the implementation of the two-State solution, achieve permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and create a new reality of stability and prosperity.”
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UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock acknowledged scepticism around the two-state formula, noting that the UN’s earliest resolutions on the issue date back to its founding years. But she stressed that pursuing the alternative would mean conceding to “evil” and risk “the end of this institution.”
“This is not a naïve wish,” Baerbock insisted. “The international community is committed not only to the principle of two states but to identifying tangible, timebound and irreversible steps for its realisation, backed by decisive measures and international guarantees.”
The conference underscored a growing shift among Western powers towards recognising Palestinian statehood, even as conditions on the ground remain volatile. For Guterres and other leaders, the message was clear: without urgent steps, the two-state solution risks slipping out of reach, with grave consequences for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.
France Joins UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal in Recognising Palestinian Statehood added by Arun Kumar N on
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