From the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s recognition of the State of Palestine.

“It is our responsibility to do everything we can to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Today, I declare that France recognizes the State of Palestine,” he said, announcing his country’s pre-decided but nonetheless historic decision.

The announcement by the French president came while the representatives of the US and Israel were absent from the General Assembly hall.

“We have gathered here because the time has come for peace,” the French president said at the beginning of his speech, stressing that “the time has come to release the hostages, to end the war, the massacres, and the flight of people. The time has come because there is urgent need everywhere. The time has come for peace.”

“We are only a step away from peace becoming impossible,” he warned, adding that “nothing justifies war.”

“That is why today, here, in this hall, we must open the path to peace,” he continued.

“This recognition is a way to affirm that the Palestinian people are not a people to be discarded,” he added after announcing the decision, emphasizing that Paris’s move “takes nothing away from the rights of the Israeli people.”

However, Macron also warned that the French embassy in Palestine depends on the release of “all hostages” and a “ceasefire” in Gaza.

“We have a historic responsibility. We must do everything we can to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,” he said further.

Palestinian Authority: A courageous decision

Meanwhile, in its first reaction, the Palestinian Authority welcomed Paris’s “historic and courageous” decision.

It is worth noting that just yesterday recognition had also come from the UK, Canada, Portugal, and Australia, with other countries set to follow. In total, more than 150 UN member states out of over 190 have recognized the State of Palestine.

All this comes amid Israel’s anger at the decisions of countries that have maintained close diplomatic and defense relations with it for decades.