NEW YORK – In a significant diplomatic shift, a bloc of Western European nations led by France officially recognized Palestinian statehood during a summit at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2025.
The move, which brings the total number of UN member states recognizing Palestine to 147, marks a substantial escalation of international pressure on Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition at a summit co-chaired with Saudi Arabia. He was swiftly followed by the leaders of Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, and Andorra. The collective action signals a growing impatience among some of Israel’s traditional European partners with the stalled peace process.
The summit adopted the “New York Declaration,” outlining concrete steps toward Palestinian statehood. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres endorsed the moves, stating that Palestinian statehood is an essential component for a lasting peace.
The event also revealed fissures within Palestinian leadership. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas used the platform to demand that Hamas disarm and surrender its weapons, a clear reference to the internal political struggle exacerbated by the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately condemned the recognitions, labeling them as violations of past agreements that reward terrorism. The coordinated European action represents a major diplomatic setback for his government.
