France leads a number of nations recognizing Palestinian state amid anger over Israel’s conduct in Gaza war

United Nations, New York — France and several other Western nations formally declared their recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Monday in a move that deepens Israel’s international isolation as it pursues its maximalist war aims in Gaza and expands settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Monaco, Malta and Luxembourg declared their support during a summit on a two-state solution in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Belgium also declared its recognition but said it can only take legal effect if Hamas is removed and hostages are returned.

Speaking at a summit, French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN General Assembly that recognition of a Palestinian state is the “only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace,” calling the move a “defeat for Hamas.”

“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,” Macron said.

The recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people “takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one,” he added.

During Monday’s summit, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in Gaza “intolerable” and said a two-state solution is the “only way out of this nightmare.”

Pushing back against criticism, he said statehood for Palestinians “is a right, not a reward” and without it, there will be “no peace” in the region.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the summit, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said the US and Israel “will not participate in this charade” and expressed disappointment toward Macron.

“On October 8, you stood with Israel, you spoke about the hostages. Today you’re moving on, you’re leaving the hostages behind,” Danon said, referring to the countries that plan to recognize Palestinian statehood.