skip to contentAdvertisementThe most far-right government in Israel's history has declared there will be no Palestinian state as it pushes on with its fight against militant group Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people.By: Express Web Desk September 23, 2025 01:54 AM IST First published on: Sep 23, 2025 at 01:52 AM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookFrench President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters. (AP Photo)France has officially recognised a Palestinian state on Monday, joining Britain, Canada and other countries that took similar steps over the weekend, a move rejected by Israel and the United States.French President Emmanuel Macron opened the three-hour United Nations session, co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, by saying the time had come to keep alive the possibility of a two-state solution.“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 told delegates. “France recognises the state of Palestine,” he added, prompting applause.Delegates applaud after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition of a State of Palestine, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters. (AP Photo)The recognition is not expected to change realities on the ground, but comes as Israel pushes ahead with a ground assault on Gaza City nearly two years into the war. Local health officials in Gaza say more than 65,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which left about 1,200 people in Israel dead.Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said it will never accept a Palestinian state and continues to press its campaign against Hamas.The United States and Israel boycotted Monday’s summit. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Jerusalem would consider possible responses once Netanyahu returns from the US later this week.“Those issues were supposed to be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians in the future,” Danon told reporters.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously told allies that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would create further problems. President Donald Trump, who met Netanyahu in New York earlier this week, has not commented directly on the recognitions.Several European countries including Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and San Marino also announced recognition of a Palestinian state on Monday, ahead of the UN General Assembly. Australia, Britain and Canada had made the move over the weekend.Israel has said these steps will undermine prospects of reaching an agreement to end the conflict.The two-state solution was at the heart of the US-backed Oslo peace accords signed in 1993, but talks have been stalled since 2014.French President Emmanuel Macron, center, prepares to speak during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters. (AP)Germany and Italy signalled they would not join the recognitions at this stage. A German government spokesperson said Berlin remained critical of Israeli settlement expansion but insisted that recognition should come only at the end of negotiations. Italy’s foreign ministry said such a step could be “counterproductive.”Most Read1‘Firm approved 5,189 H-1B visas, laid off 16,000 Americans’: White House defends fee hike as move to ‘protect US jobs’2‘I forgive him’: Erika Kirk forgives husband Charlie’s alleged killer at memorial service in Arizona324 killed in blast at militant compound in Pakistan’s Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa4Hong Kong airport may suspend flights for 36 hours as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches: Reports5As Trump raises fee, top 10 US companies sponsoring most H-1B visas, TCS ranks 26‘Charlie Kirk’s killer was radicalised, cold-blooded monster’: Trump says US in shock and mourning at Kirk’s memorial serviceNetanyahu said in a statement that Israel’s response to the announcements would be made public after his return from meetings in the US Israeli officials said possible measures include annexing parts of the occupied West Bank and taking specific bilateral steps against France.Annexation, however, could risk Israel’s ties with countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The UAE has said further annexation would undermine those agreements.Despite a growing number of recognitions, full UN membership for Palestine would require a vote in the Security Council, where the US holds veto power.AdvertisementTop story1‘Firm approved 5,189 H-1B visas, laid off 16,000 Americans’: White House defends fee hike as move to ‘protect US jobs’2‘I forgive him’: Erika Kirk forgives husband Charlie’s alleged killer at memorial service in Arizona324 killed in blast at militant compound in Pakistan’s Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa4Hong Kong airport may suspend flights for 36 hours as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches: Reports5As Trump raises fee, top 10 US companies sponsoring most H-1B visas, TCS ranks 2AdvertisementLoading Taboola...