French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday in an X post that France will recognize Palestine as a state.

″Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,’' Macron posted on X. ″Peace is possible.’'

The announcement also called for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel is at war with Palestinian-backed Hamas.  

"The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved," Macron also wrote.

He said he will formalize the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Attached to the post was also a letter he sent to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about the decision.