STORY: France recognized a Palestinian state at a world summit in New York on Monday (September 22), nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Britain, Canada and other Western allies who made the same historic move on Sunday and were rebuked by Israel.

"We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security," the summit host, French President Emmanuel Macron, said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the United Nations.

"The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel," he said before announcing the diplomatic move drawing lengthy applause from the audience.

Macron outlined a framework for a "renewed Palestinian Authority" under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza.

While Monday’s event, convened by France and Saudi Arabia and boycotted by Israel and the United States, could boost the morale of Palestinians in their long search for statehood, it was not expected to deliver change on the ground.

Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg and San Marino were also expected to recognize a Palestinian state on Monday ahead of this week's U.N. General Assembly, after Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal did so at the weekend. Malta made the announcement earlier on Monday.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, GIVING SPEECH AT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN TWO-STATE SOLUTION SUMMIT AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, ANNOUNCING FRANCE FORMALLY RECOGNIZES STATE OF PALESTINE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: UNITED NATIONS (SEPTEMBER 22, 2025) (UNTV - Access all)

1. FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, ARRIVING FOR ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN TWO-STATE SOLUTION SUMMIT, GREETING EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA

2. MACRON SPEAKING WITH ITALIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, ANTONIO TAJANI

3. DELEGATES IN HALL, MACRON WALKING UP PODIUM

4. MACRON TAKING SEAT

5. DELEGATES STANDING

6. DELEGATES IN ROOM, BELL RINGING

7. MACRON BANGING GAVEL

8. MACRON WALKING TOWARD PODIUM

9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

"Time has come. This is why, loyal to my country’s historic commitment to the Middle East, for peace among Israeli people and Palestinian people, I declare that France recognizes today the state of Palestine.” (APPLAUSE HEARD)

10. DELEGATES APPLAUDING, MACRON AT PODIUM

11. PALESTINIAN DELEGATES APPLAUDING

12. MACRON AT PODIUM, DELEGATES APPLAUDING

13. EMPTY UNITED STATES SEATS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

"Since last July, the acceleration of events is terrible. And based on where we are, we fear that the Abraham Accords or the Camp David Accords could be put into question through the actions of Israel and that peace could become impossible for a long time in the Middle East. And so we carry a heavy responsibility. We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.”

15. EMPTY ISRAEL SEATS, OTHER DELEGATES APPLAUDING

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“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, the respect of which it is as much committed, precisely because we are convinced that this recognition is the only solution that will allow for peace for Israel.”

17. DELEGATES AND UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, LISTENING

18. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“I hear with much respect the Israeli people, their sadness and their fatigue. But I want to believe that the Israeli authorities will also hear them and will be able to commit themselves, too. I know that the Israeli people and their leaders could have the strength to do so.”

19. MACRON SPEAKING

20. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“It will also be the duty of the state of Palestine to give back hope to its population that has been tested by years of violence, of occupation, as well as division and neglect. So it will be up to it to offer its people a renewed and secured framework for democratic expression.”

21. SUMMIT IN PROGRESS

22. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“This renewed Palestinian authority is a necessary condition to the success of the indispensable negotiation that has to resume in order to obtain an agreement on each of the questions related to the final status. It is also in this framework that I could decide to establish an embassy in the state of Palestine, as long as all hostages detained in Gaza are freed and as long as a ceasefire is established.”

23. MACRON SPEAKING

24. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“To build peace – that is what gathered us here. And that is the hope that could be built. As a new year opens for many, this is a choice to make, and this is our duty. Peace is a lot more demanding, a lot more difficult than any war. But the time has come.” (APPLAUSE HEARD)

25. PALESTINIAN DELEGATES APPLAUDING

26. DELEGATES APPLAUDING