As the United Nations’ crucial diplomatic week began on Monday, September 22, 2025, France and several other nations were poised to officially recognize a Palestinian state. This decision follows a wave of symbolic endorsements from various Western governments, a move that has ignited strong condemnation from Israel.
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal had already extended recognition to a Palestinian state. This collective action significantly ratchets up the pressure on Israel, which is currently escalating its military campaign in Gaza. The conflict has tragically claimed tens of thousands of lives, left the enclave in ruins, and garnered sharp criticism even from its closest international partners.
French President Emmanuel Macron signaled that France would follow suit on Monday. He is scheduled to host a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, focusing on revitalizing the stalled two-state solution, which envisions peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel.
Speaking on CBS News’s ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday, Mr. Macron asserted, ‘They want a nation, they want a state, and we should not push them towards Hamas.’ He further elaborated that recognizing Palestine would contribute to isolating the armed group.
The French President also stated that the release of hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel would be a prerequisite for France to establish an embassy in the Palestinian state.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry contended that such recognition efforts do not ‘promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future.’
Over 140 global leaders are converging in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly summit. Discussions at the summit are expected to be heavily focused on the critical issue of the Palestinians’ future.
Notably absent from the gathering will be Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who, along with his officials, was denied a visa to attend by Washington.
This decision drew strong criticism from the General Assembly, where world leaders’ speeches and anticipated protest walkouts will highlight the issue. In a significant move, the assembly voted 145 to five to allow President Abbas to address the body via video link.
The dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territories will undoubtedly be a central theme of the agenda. This comes two years after the start of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, which was initiated in response to the extensive Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Amidst this diplomatic push, some diplomats express concern over potential Israeli retaliation against Western efforts to recognize a Palestinian state, aiming to revive discussions on the two-state solution.
On Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reiterated his stance, stating that ‘a negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity.’
He clarified that, ‘For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. But this process must begin now,’ emphasizing the urgency of starting the dialogue before the General Assembly.
The ‘Erasure of Palestinian Life’
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his strong opposition to a Palestinian state and pledged to expedite the construction of new settlements.
Further intensifying the rhetoric, far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocated for the annexation of the West Bank.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking to AFP on Friday, declared that ‘we should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation.’
He added, ‘With or without doing what we are doing, these actions would go on and at least there is a chance to mobilize international community to put pressure for them not to happen,’ underscoring the importance of international intervention.
Anticipation is high for Mr. Netanyahu’s address on Friday, and equally for that of his staunch supporter, U.S. President Donald Trump—who firmly opposes Palestinian state recognition—scheduled to speak on Tuesday.
Washington has consistently dismissed Abbas’s Palestinian Authority as a viable partner for peace negotiations.
Max Rodenbeck, Israel-Palestine project director at the International Crisis Group, warned that ‘Unless backed up by concrete measures, recognizing Palestine as a state risks becoming a distraction from the reality, which is an accelerating erasure of Palestinian life in their homeland.’
Official data indicates that the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, tragically led to the deaths of 1,219 Israelis, predominantly civilians.
In the Gaza Strip, subsequent Israeli military operations have resulted in 65,062 Palestinian fatalities, largely civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry—figures that the UN deems credible.
The usually serene Manhattan neighborhood housing the UN’s 38-story headquarters and the expansive General Assembly hall has been transformed into a hub of intense security measures, protests, and road closures, as global leaders gather for the summit.
Beyond Gaza, this week’s extensive meetings and events will also highlight other pressing global issues, including the renewed sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, the devastating conflict in Ukraine, and Russia’s repeated incursions into neighboring airspaces.
The Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency meeting on Monday to address Estonia’s formal accusation that Russian aircraft have breached its airspace.