In a historic moment for the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Britain and France have officially recognized a Palestinian state. This significant step, taken at the United Nations, signals a bold diplomatic maneuver by major European powers, who see the current crisis in Gaza as a critical juncture demanding such unprecedented action.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “right must prevail over might” as he announced his country’s support, a move coordinated with the UK and backed by Saudi Arabia. The primary aim is to keep the two-state solution, long considered the only viable path to peace, from fading entirely. The alternative, as warned by UN Secretary General António Guterres, is a grim “one-state” reality leading to Israeli dominance and Palestinian subjugation, a scenario he deemed unjustifiable under any circumstances.
However, this European initiative has met with strong disapproval from Israel, which views it as a reward for Hamas following the October 7th attacks. Some Israeli ministers are advocating for a retaliatory annexation of parts of the West Bank, effectively ending any possibility of a future Palestinian state. This stance is amplified by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes figures openly supporting settlement expansion and the expulsion of Palestinians.
The United States, under the Trump administration, has aligned itself with Israel, openly rejecting the European initiative and imposing sanctions on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas himself addressed the UN conference via video link after being barred from attending in person. This divergence highlights a deep rift between Washington and its European allies regarding Middle East peace strategies.
The situation on the ground, with escalating conflict in Gaza, ongoing hostage crises, and increasing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, has pushed European nations to act. Macron’s strategy aims to demonstrate that diplomacy can offer a way forward, first by seeking an end to the Gaza war and then pursuing a long-term two-state solution. They argue that Israel’s current approach has failed, leading to more suffering and jeopardizing the hostages.
The involvement of Saudi Arabia and the Arab League in co-chairing the UN conference is seen by France as a crucial leverage point. These Arab nations have called for Hamas to disarm and integrate into the Palestinian Authority, effectively ruling out Hamas’s leadership role. Macron believes this diplomatic push provides an incentive for Israel and also opens avenues for normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, a key objective for both Netanyahu and Trump.
Both Macron and UK opposition leader Keir Starmer invoked their countries’ colonial pasts, recalling the international recognition of Israel after Britain’s withdrawal from Palestine in 1948. Now, they argue, it’s time to recognize the Palestinians’ equal right to statehood. While Palestinians welcome this European recognition, they understand that current global power dynamics mean US backing is crucial for statehood to become a reality. However, President Trump’s administration appears to have different priorities.