Embassy of Palestine, Paris
Diplomatic mission of Palestine in France
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The Embassy of Palestine in France (French: Ambassade de Palestine en France) is the diplomatic mission of the State of Palestine in France. It was known as the Mission of Palestine in France until March 2026, when it obtained the rank of an embassy. The embassy is located at 14 Rue du Commandant-Léandri in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.[1] Its ambassador, since 2021, is Hala Abou-Hassira.[1]
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| Embassy of Palestine in France | |
|---|---|
The chancery building in February 2026 | |
 | |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Address | 14 Rue du Commandant-Léandri, 75015 Paris |
| Coordinates | 48.838493°N 2.292538°E |
| Ambassador | Hala Abou-Hassira |
History
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) maintained an unofficial presence in France before receiving authorization to open a formal office. From around 1970, the French authorities tolerated an unofficial PLO representation at the Paris office of the Arab League.[2] Mahmoud Hamshari, the PLO's first representative in France, was assassinated in Paris in December 1972 in an attack attributed to Israel's Mossad.[3][4]
In October 1975, the French government authorised the PLO to open an information and liaison office in Paris.[3] According to Éric Aeschimann and Christophe Boltanski, remarks by Jacques Chirac reported in Yedioth Ahronoth on 15 August 1986 stated that Chirac, then Prime Minister of France, and foreign minister Jean Sauvagnargues had not been aware of the office's opening, and that the authorisation had been given by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.[5]
In January 1989, President François Mitterrand announced that the PLO office in Paris would be upgraded to a "General Delegation of Palestine". Because France did not then recognise Palestine as a state, the delegation was not granted diplomatic status or the privileges attached to it, including immunity.[6]
In July 2010, French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner upgraded the General Delegation of Palestine to the "Mission of Palestine" and granted its head the title of "Ambassador, head of the Palestinian Mission".[7] The upgrade enabled the Palestinian head of mission, Hael al-Fahoum, to present credentials to the President of France.[8]
France recognised the State of Palestine on 22 September 2025, when President Emmanuel Macron made the declaration at the United Nations General Assembly.[9][10]
On 25 March 2026, Hala Abou-Hassira presented her credentials to President Emmanuel Macron as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine. The presentation of credentials marked the elevation of the Palestinian representation in France from mission to embassy.[11][12]
Representatives
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| Term | Presented credentials | Representative |
|---|---|---|
| PLO representatives before formal diplomatic status | ||
| before 1972 | Mahmoud Hamshari[3][4] | |
| 1973–1978 | Ezzedine Kalak[13] | |
| General Delegation of Palestine | ||
| 1978–1993 | Ibrahim Souss[14] | |
| 1993–2006 | Leila Shahid[15] | |
| 2006–2010 | Hind Khoury[15][16] | |
| Mission of Palestine | ||
| 2010–2016 | 9 June 2010 | Hael al-Fahoum[7][17] |
| 2016–2021 | 15 February 2016 | Salman El-Herfi[18] |
| 2021–2026 | 2 November 2021 | Hala Abou-Hassira[19][20] |
| Embassy of Palestine | ||
| 2026–present | 25 March 2026 | Hala Abou-Hassira[11][12] |