HALABJA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced he has decided that France will “recognize the State of Palestine” in September.

“I will make the solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September,” said the French leader in a post on X, adding that “The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued.”

“It is essential to build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” Macron added.

“There is no alternative.”

Macron and France have been increasingly vocal about their opposition to the expansive Israeli campaign on Gaza in recent times.

In a joint statement on Monday, the foreign ministers of 30 countries, including France, called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, and condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children.”

In early April, Macron expressed concern over the displacement of Palestinians and the possible annexation of more Palestinian territory, affirming that “this would be a violation of international law and a serious threat to the security of the entire region, including Israel.”

In May, Macron said that abandoning Gaza and granting Israel “a free pass” would “kill” the West’s credibility. In response, Israel accused the French president of undertaking a “crusade against the Jewish state.”

Israel's increasingly extensive military campaign on Palestinian territories and the tightening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza has ignited ample uproar, with European powers changing the tone of their narratives more and more in criticism of Israel.

The Israeli campaign has claimed the lives of over 59,000 Palestinians since October 7 2023, and wounded more than 140,000 others.