July 25, 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio harshly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement to formally recognize the State of Palestine, calling it a reckless move and a “slap in the face” to the victims of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly.
This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 25, 2025
In a post on social media platform X, Rubio stated:
“The United States strongly opposes President Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and further undermines the possibility of peace.”
On the evening of July 24, Macron declared that France will officially recognize Palestinian statehood during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September. He emphasized the urgency of halting the war in Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to civilians, while also calling for the demilitarization of Hamas and long-term security guarantees for the region.
Macron stressed that a viable Palestinian state must fully recognize Israel and commit to regional security.
“Palestine must commit to demilitarization and recognize Israel, becoming a responsible actor for peace in the Middle East,” the French leader said.
The announcement triggered sharp criticism from Israeli officials, who view the move as undermining Israel’s security and legitimizing Hamas at a sensitive time.
