LONDON — Mounting civilian suffering and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza are pushing European powers toward formal recognition of the State of Palestine, exposing a growing rift between Europe and the United States over the Middle East peace process.
France is taking the lead, with Britain and Germany increasing pressure on Israel to act.
On July 24, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, making it the first G7 country to do so.
France’s decision signals a shift in European positions on the issue. According to Le Monde, the tipping point was Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza and its obstruction of humanitarian aid, fueling famine and civilian suffering.
The collapse of ceasefire negotiations, limited US diplomatic engagement, and a recent symbolic vote by the Israeli Knesset to annex parts of the West Bank have reinforced perceptions in Paris and London that long-standing mediation efforts have failed.
Adel Bakawan, a researcher at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, said France is seizing a “window of political opportunity” as US influence in the region declines. “France is offering an alternative vision,” he said.
Reviving peace process
Analysts see the move as an effort to revive a peace process long dominated by Israel, Hamas, and the United States, all of whom, they say, have shown little willingness to compromise.
In London, the British government increased pressure on Israel as Downing Street issued a statement urging “immediate and meaningful” action to address the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the crisis, including implementing a ceasefire, lifting the blockade, resuming UN-led humanitarian aid, halting annexation plans in the West Bank, and recommitting to the two-state solution, Britain will recognize Palestine in September.
Starmer said the move would not be a “reward” to Hamas, but a “necessary step to salvage a peace framework that is rapidly collapsing.”
“I’m particularly concerned that the idea of a two-state solution is receding and feels further away today than it has for many years,” he said.
Domestic pressure
Britain’s announcement follows domestic pressure. More than 200 Members of Parliament from nine political parties signed a letter to Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.
Lammy argued that Britain’s historical role in the 1917 Balfour Declaration places a moral responsibility on the country to help preserve the prospect of peace.
German Foreign Minister Thomas Wadephul on Thursday urged Israel to address worsening conditions in Gaza, warning the scale of suffering had reached “unfathomable dimensions.” Speaking ahead of a planned visit to Israel, he said the recent United Nations conference in New York showed that “Israel is increasingly finding itself in a minority position.”
Compared with US President Donald Trump’s statement after his recent visit to Scotland, the European endorsement of Palestine’s statehood has exposed a sharp transatlantic contrast.
Trump dismissed Britain’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state as “dangerous,” warning it could “reward Hamas,” complicate diplomacy, and undermine future peace efforts.
However, in a statement, Trump acknowledged that there is “real starvation” in Gaza and said he had asked Israel to allow food into the territory.
While several European governments now view recognition as a diplomatic lever, the United States maintains that Palestinian statehood must come only through direct negotiations with Israel. In April 2024, the Biden administration vetoed Palestine’s bid for full UN membership in the Security Council.
Experts caution that recognition alone may not bring meaningful change. Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, honorary president of the Institute for Research and Studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East, said France had “boxed itself in” by making demands it has “no ability to enforce.”
As the Financial Times noted, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Netanyahu has eroded the viability of a two-state solution. Yet for many in Europe, it remains the only path that offers justice for Palestinians and long-term security for Israel. / XINHUA