President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned Israel against closing down the French consulate in Jerusalem as a possible retaliatory measure following his announcement earlier this week that France now recognises a Palestinian state.
"I think that would be a major error and therefore I don't believe it will happen," he said in an interview with France 24 and Radio France Internationale on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority on Monday hailed the formal recognition of a Palestinian state by French President Emmanuel Macron as a "historic and courageous decision".
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the recognition of the State of Palestine by the friendly Republic of France, considering it a historic and courageous decision that is consistent with international law and United Nations resolutions and supports ongoing efforts to achieve peace and implement the two-state solution," the PA's foreign ministry in Ramallah said in a statement.
Macron also said he would make the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel a precondition for opening a French embassy to the Palestinian state.
However, Israel's foreign ministry said that recognition does not "promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution."
The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognized the state of Palestine on Sunday.
Around three-fourths of the 193-member United Nations recognizes Palestine, but major Western nations had until recently declined to, saying one could only come about through negotiations with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government opposed Palestinian statehood even before the war and claimed that such a move would reward Hamas.
The Trump administration is also opposed to growing recognition of a Palestinian state and blames it for the derailment of ceasefire talks with Hamas.
Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, walked away from the talks in July, and earlier this month an Israeli strike targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator.