France, joined by 14 other countries, issued a joint declaration on Tuesday signaling their readiness to recognize the State of Palestine, urging nations that have not yet taken that step to do so as part of advancing a two-state solution.
The statement, released in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations, was signed by the foreign ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain.
The ministers condemned the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in Israel as “heinous and antisemitic,” while simultaneously calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access.
“We express our willingness to recognize the State of Palestine as an essential step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call,” the ministers said in their statement, which France’s foreign minister described as a “collective New York call.”
The declaration reiterated support for a vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, “living side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders,” and underscored the importance of unifying Gaza with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
The signatories also voiced concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted the role of the United Nations in facilitating relief. They welcomed commitments made by the Palestinian Authority in June, including calls for elections, reforms and adherence to the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian state.
Looking ahead, the ministers said they were determined to develop an international framework for the “day after” in Gaza that would include reconstruction, the disarmament of Hamas, and its exclusion from governance structures.
The joint declaration comes as heads of state and government prepare to gather for the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in September, where the issue of Palestinian statehood is expected to feature prominently.