French far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused France’s President Emmanuel Macron of legitimizing the October 7 attack by Hamas with his decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

Macron shared a statement on Thursday, July 24, confirming that he had “decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” and that he would make a formal announcement before the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“To recognize a Palestinian state today is to recognize a Hamas state, and therefore a terrorist state,” National Rally’s Le Pen posted to X on Friday morning, July 25, originally in French.

“There is, in this gesture, no fidelity to the history of France—quite the opposite—and even less a guarantee of peace for Israel.

“While hope has always led us toward a two-state solution, this decision legitimizes the October 7th massacre and the trail of suffering it caused, even as hostages remain in captivity.

“It is therefore a political and moral mistake, including toward Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’s rule.”

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.