Macron urges Europe to recognize Palestine as China's role grows

Throughout 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron has continued his push for more European countries to formally recognize the state of Palestine, arguing that the move is essential to reviving hopes of peace in the Middle East.

France has been intensifying efforts to persuade its partners to act together, with Macron saying recognition could help stabilize a region battered by years of war in Gaza and escalating violence in the occupied West Bank.

Supporters say formal recognition would send a strong political signal and help lay the groundwork for a two-state solution.

Former Israeli ambassador Alon Liel believes Macron's push could reshape Western policy. He says similar moves by France's close allies would carry significant weight.

"It was really President Macron that brought about the recognition of [Palestine by] Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and so on," Liel told CGTN. 

"For Israel, it was a huge problem, because the Israeli government promised the public that there would be no Palestinian state. And here come some of our best friends, including two permanent members of the Security Council, France and Britain, to recognize Palestine," he added.

France's initiative comes amid shifts in the geopolitical landscape. Analysts say future peace efforts may no longer rest solely with Europe and the United States, as China emerges as an increasingly influential diplomatic player.

'It cannot happen without China'

Attention is now turning to Gaza's reconstruction, as international players look at how to support post-war recovery. Ofer Bronchtein, France's special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian affairs and co-founder of the International Peace Forum, says Beijing could play a constructive role.

"China is a rising power, and it can play a constructive role in the construction of the Middle East," he said. "It cannot happen without China."

China has already pledged $100 million in assistance for rebuilding Gaza, announced after President Xi Jinping met President Macron in Beijing earlier this month. The Chinese foreign ministry says the funds will be used to ease the humanitarian crisis and support reconstruction efforts.

More than 150 countries currently recognize a Palestinian state, but key Western nations remain divided, and momentum has slowed amid a fragile ceasefire.

Analysts argue that China's growing diplomatic footprint could add pressure for renewed international engagement. Bronchtein points to Beijing's role in helping broker a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran as a sign of its expanding influence.

"For the first time in Europe, we are seeing the Chinese playing a political and diplomatic role that they were not playing before," he said.

"Whether this momentum carries into 2026 may depend on two factors: the durability of the ceasefire, and whether Europe and China are prepared to act together, rather than leaving the next phase of diplomacy to Washington alone," he added.