Emmanuel Macron calls on UK to recognise Palestinian state in speech to Parliament

In a landmark speech during his official state visit to the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a powerful and unexpected call for the UK to formally recognise the State of Palestine. Speaking directly to members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, Macron’s address marks a bold diplomatic intervention — and places pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new government to shift the UK’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Macron draws on France’s recent announcement of its intent to recognise Palestinian statehood, and frames the move as a moral obligation and a necessary step toward long-term peace in the Middle East. His speech links the UK’s historical role in the region — from the Balfour Declaration to its post-colonial responsibilities — with its present-day capacity to champion a just and peaceful solution.

The address touches on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the urgent need for a two-state solution, and the importance of the international community in ending the cycle of violence. Macron’s remarks receive a mixed but passionate response from across the political spectrum, reigniting debate in Westminster over the UK’s foreign policy alignment, its relationship with the United States, and the future of Britain’s role on the global stage.

This video features key moments from Macron’s speech, reactions from British MPs, and analysis of what this could mean for UK-Palestine relations, Israel diplomacy, and the broader European position on Palestinian recognition.

Like PoliticsJOE? We need your support: