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Global momentum grows for Palestinian statehood amid Gaza war
Three-quarters of United Nations member states have recognized or plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, signaling a significant shift in international policy amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Australia became the latest country to pledge its support, announcing its intent to back Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly this September.
Revived global push for Palestinian statehood
The Israel-Hamas war, which erupted in Gaza following the militant group’s October 7, 2023, attack, has reignited calls for a sovereign Palestinian state. This represents a break from the long-standing position that Palestinian statehood must emerge through a negotiated peace agreement with Israel. According to reports, at least 145 of the 193 UN member states now recognize or intend to recognize Palestine as an independent state, including nations such as France, Britain, and Canada.
A historical overview of Palestinian statehood efforts
The Palestinian quest for statehood formally began on November 15, 1988, during the first intifada, or uprising against Israeli rule. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital at a meeting of the Palestinian National Council in Algiers. The council also endorsed the two-state solution, envisioning Israel and Palestine coexisting as independent nations. Algeria was the first to recognize the proclamation, followed by dozens of countries across the Arab world, Africa, and Asia within days.
In the early 2010s, another wave of recognitions emerged as South American nations, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, backed Palestinian statehood in response to Israel’s decision to resume settlement-building in the occupied West Bank. In 2012, the UN General Assembly elevated Palestine’s status to a “non-member observer state,” and the Palestinian flag was raised at the United Nations for the first time. Subsequently, the International Criminal Court recognized Palestine as a state party in 2015.
Recent diplomatic shifts
The ongoing violence in Gaza has catalyzed further international support for Palestinian statehood. In 2024, four Caribbean nations—Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the Bahamas—along with Armenia, joined the growing list of countries recognizing Palestine. Four European nations—Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia—followed suit, marking a significant development within the European Union. This was the first EU-backed recognition in a decade since Sweden’s move in 2014, which had strained its relations with Israel.
However, divisions remain within Europe. While countries like Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania recognized Palestine as early as 1988, others, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, have resisted or reversed their recognition.
Growing pledges ahead of the UN General Assembly
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would support Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly. France, Britain, and Canada have also pledged similar commitments, though Britain’s recognition is contingent on Israel agreeing to measures such as a ceasefire in Gaza. Canada’s decision, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, marked a dramatic policy shift that Israel immediately rejected.
Other countries, including Malta, Finland, and Portugal, have indicated they may also formally recognize Palestine in the near future.
The international push for Palestinian statehood reflects a broader call for justice and peace in the region as the conflict in Gaza continues to draw global attention.