Dhaka, July 30 -- On July 24, French President Emmanuel Macron made a striking announcement: France will formally recognize the State of Palestine, a move to be officially declared at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The statement, posted on social media, was as much a declaration of France's ongoing commitment to Palestinian rights as it was a calculated attempt to affirm France's relevance on the global diplomatic stage. But how significant is this move really? And what does it mean for Palestinians on the ground - and for the broader international community?

This announcement did not come out of nowhere. Macron had previously hinted at his intention to recognize Palestine, including in speeches to foreign audiences su...