In a sweeping diplomatic shift, several key allies of the United States are now preparing to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.This development will increase global pressure on Israel and change how the world views Palestinian statehood. In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine.
Here are the 10 big things to know:
147 of the 193So far, 147 of the 193 United Nations member states recognise Palestine as a state. That number is expected to grow, with France, Britain and Canada — three close US allies and key global players — announcing plans to join the list in the coming months.Nato and G20 Among Nato’s 32 member countries, 14 already recognise a Palestinian state. If Britain, France and Canada follow through, that number will rise to 17. Within the G20, 10 countries currently extend recognition. The latest announcements would push this total to 13.India’s stanceIndia was one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine after its declaration in 1988. Even earlier, in 1974, India had recognised the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, showing its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.India is set to take part in a UN high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the two-state solution. So far, 123 countries and organisations have signed up for the three-day meeting starting Monday. The event will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. UN security council divideFrance confirmed it would extend recognition by September, while Britain has tied its decision to whether Israel agrees to a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.If Britain and France formalise their decisions, the United States will be the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that does not recognise Palestine. China and Russia already do.Canada’s stance and Trump’s responseCanada is set to formally recognise the State of Palestine in September 2025 during the United Nations General Assembly, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney said that worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and continued settlement expansion have made the two-state solution untenable without international action. US President Donald Trump has expressed disapproval, warning that if Canada joins the line of countries supporting Palestine, it may become harder for the country to continue trade with its neighbour.Arab League breaks new groundIn a historic shift, all 22 Arab League nations have jointly called on Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, give up its weapons, and release hostages. This was announced at a high-level UN conference in New York focused on achieving a two-state solution.International backing for the Arab DeclarationThe Arab League statement was backed by all 27 European Union countries and 17 other nations. It called for a “temporary international stabilisation mission” in Gaza, under the invitation of the Palestinian Authority and supervised by the United Nations.New roadmap: The New York DeclarationThe UN conference, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together delegates from 125 countries. The resulting “New York Declaration” outlines a phased roadmap for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. UN member states have until the General Assembly session in September to endorse it.Australia, Finland, Malta, Portugal and New Zealand have also expressed interest in recognising Palestine before the upcoming UN General Assembly.Hamas reacts to the DeclarationHamas responded by welcoming international support for Palestinian rights but called for “unconditional international recognition” of statehood. It did not directly address the Arab League’s call to disarm. “The Palestinian situation is an internal affair of our people,” the group said.Humanitarian cost of the warIsrael’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Nearly 2 million people are now facing extreme hunger and hardship. The Israeli assault began in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.Both Israel and the United States have criticised the push for recognition, saying it rewards Hamas and undermines current ceasefire negotiations.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders warn that international recognition efforts threaten Israeli security. Hamas, for its part, denounced calls for regional normalisation with Israel, saying such efforts “reward the enemy for its crimes.”
