157 countries recognise Palestinian State amid Israel’s opposition

In what appears to be a historic diplomatic shift, several Western countries, long considered close allies of Israel, have formally recognised the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra, and Belgium joined Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom in announcing their recognition, […]

In what appears to be a historic diplomatic shift, several Western countries, long considered close allies of Israel, have formally recognised the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra, and Belgium joined Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom in announcing their recognition, marking a significant moment in the decades-long struggle for Palestinian statehood.

The wave of recognition comes amid Israel’s continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and its devastating military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed more than 65,000 Palestinian lives.

The UK’s decision is particularly symbolic, occurring more than a century after the Balfour Declaration supported “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” and 77 years after the creation of Israel under the British Mandate.

“In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement on Sunday.

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Currently, 157 of the 193 UN member states – representing 81 per cent of the international community- recognise Palestine as a sovereign nation. The Holy See, governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, also extends recognition, despite holding non-member observer status at the UN.

These recognitions reflect mounting frustration with Israel’s disregard for international law and its refusal to engage in meaningful peace negotiations.

They also signal a growing consensus that symbolic gestures must evolve into concrete diplomatic pressure to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.

 

What recognition means

Recognition of Palestine carries significant diplomatic weight. It allows the Palestinian Authority (PA) to open embassies with full diplomatic status, engage in trade agreements, gain support at international forums, and approach institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC). It also boosts Palestine’s global standing and increases pressure on Western powers to push for a two-state solution.

However, recognition alone does not end the war in Gaza or halt Israel’s military occupation. As Martin Griffiths, director of Mediation Group International, told Al Jazeera, “This is the entry point, but it’s not the end point.”

He urged countries like the UK to uphold their obligations under the International Court of Justice by facilitating humanitarian aid, ending arms sales, and easing blockades.

Griffiths also emphasised the need for reforms within the Palestinian Authority, calling for it to be “fit for purpose.”

He cited efforts by France, Saudi Arabia, Norway, and Spain to support institutional improvements. “It brings hope … but it doesn’t necessarily bring a future yet,” he added.

Together with Mexico, the 11 new recognitions in 2025 mark the 20th since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. This surge reflects a growing wave of international support for Palestinian statehood, even as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

Israel’s defiance

Israel has responded to the recognitions with fierce condemnation. UN Ambassador Danny Danon described the summit as a “circus” and accused countries of “rewarding terrorism.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, calling the UK’s recognition a “prize” for Hamas and declaring, “A Palestinian state will not happen”.

This reaction is consistent with Israel’s long-standing resistance to Palestinian sovereignty. Since the 1967 war, Israel has occupied Palestinian territories, building over 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—home to approximately 700,000 Israelis. These settlements are illegal under international law, yet construction has surged during the war in Gaza.

Israel’s latest plan to build 3,400 new homes would bisect the West Bank, linking settlements with roads reserved for Israeli use. This would make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state nearly impossible. Moreover, the Israeli Knesset voted in July to annex the West Bank, defying international law and further entrenching occupation.

Netanyahu has framed the recognition of Palestine as a threat to Israeli security, comparing it to “giving al Qaeda a state near New York City after September 11.” He warned, “There will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan [River]”.

Despite these obstacles, the Palestinian Authority continues to function as a quasi-government. It maintains diplomatic ties, operates embassies, and represents millions of Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Yet its ability to govern is severely limited by Israeli control over borders, movement, and resources.

The Montevideo Convention of 1933, often cited in international law, outlines four criteria for statehood: a defined territory, a permanent population, a functioning government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

While Palestine meets these conditions, its sovereignty is undermined by Israeli occupation and a lack of full UN membership.

In April 2024, the United States vetoed a widely supported resolution to grant Palestine full UN membership, continuing its long history of shielding Israel from international accountability. Since joining the UN, the US has used its veto power at least 50 times to block resolutions critical of Israel.