The Indonesian government welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to officially recognize the State of Palestine, calling the move as a positive measure towards achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

"This is a positive path to preserve the future prospect of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine within its 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital under the two-state solution," the Indonesian Foreign Ministry stated via its official X account @Kemlu_RI on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Indonesia also called on all countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to follow France’s example. This call reaffirms Indonesia’s long-standing commitment to the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution as the foundation for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

France’s decision adds momentum to a growing list of European countries that have formally acknowledged Palestine’s statehood in recent years, amid intensifying global pressure for a peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict.

As the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights through active diplomacy in forums such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and ASEAN.

As reported by bbc.com, France will officially recognize a Palestinian state in September, President Emmanuel Macron has said, which will make it the first G7 nation to do so. In a post on X, Macron said the formal announcement would be made at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

"The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," he wrote.

Palestinian officials welcomed Macron's decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move "rewards terror" following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack in Israel.

The U.S. "strongly rejects" Macron's announcement, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the decision as "reckless".

France is member of G7, a group of major industrialized nations, alongside the U.S., the UK, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.

In his Thursday post on X, Macron wrote: "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. We must also guarantee the demilitarization of Hamas, and secure and rebuild Gaza.”

"Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative."

Macron also attached a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming his decision.

Responding to Macron's announcement, Abbas' deputy Hussein al-Sheikh said as quoted by AFP: "This position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state."

Meanwhile, Netanyahu wrote in a post on X: "We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7, 2023 massacre.”

"A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel − not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel," Netanyahu added.

Hamas said France's decision was a "positive step in the right direction" and urged all countries of the world "to follow France's lead".

Currently, the State of Palestine is recognized by more than 140 of the 193 member states of the UN.

A few European Union countries, including Spain and Ireland, are among them.

But Israel's main supporter, the U.S., and its allies including the UK have not recognized a Palestinian state.

In a statement on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he will hold an "emergency call" with French and German leaders on Friday to discuss "what we can do urgently to stop the killing".

Statehood is an "inalienable right of the Palestinian people", Keir said, adding that a ceasefire would "put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution".

Keir's statement came as he faces growing pressure, including from his own MPs, for the UK to follow France's lead.