PARIS/JERUSALEM - French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September.

The French president wrote on the social media platform X earlier in the night that, "consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine."

Macron added he will make this "solemn announcement" before the UN General Assembly.

"The urgent need today is to end the war in Gaza and to rescue the civilian population," Macron stated on his official X account. He emphasized the necessity for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Macron underscored the broader vision behind France's recognition of Palestine, saying, "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."

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In a formal letter addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron said the urgent need is to achieve the only viable solution (two-state solution) to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, put an end to terrorism and all forms of violence, and ensure lasting peace and security for Israel and the entire region.

The move follows Macron's earlier declaration in April, saying that France would recognize the Palestinian state during an international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia in New York in June. But under pressure from the United States, the international conference has been postponed until the end of July.

On Thursday night, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron's decision.

In a statement from his office, Netanyahu said, "Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became."

"A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it," he said.

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In a statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said, "A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state, just as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip twenty years ago led to Hamas taking control of it."