In recent weeks, nearly a dozen countries have officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, affirming the Palestinian people's right to establish their own nation. While experts agree this move strengthens Palestine’s political and diplomatic standing, they caution that it does not signal the end of the war. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains deeply complex and far from resolution.
Recognition as the only path to peace
Last month, France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Australia formally recognized Palestine as a state. These nations had long refrained from taking this step, often citing pro-Israel policies and security concerns. However, Tel Aviv’s recent military actions in Gaza—widely condemned as genocide by human rights organizations including the United Nations—compelled these countries to acknowledge Palestine’s statehood.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in his announcement, stated: “The promise to establish an Arab state remains unfulfilled. We share collective responsibility for failing to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” He emphasized that recognizing Palestine does not diminish Israel’s rights, which France has historically supported. “Recognition is the only path that can lead Israel to peace,” Macron added.
World leaders who recognized Palestine stressed that the state has the right to exist, while the militant group Hamas, currently engaged in armed conflict with Israel, must be disarmed and excluded from governance.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed calls for a ceasefire during his address at the UN General Assembly, denouncing Palestine's recognition as a “disgrace.” He escalated bombings and tightened the Gaza blockade. It was only after meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House that Netanyahu agreed to a temporary ceasefire, though he reiterated his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state.
So, can this wave of recognitions liberate Palestine from Israel’s grip and pave the way toward sustainable peace in the region?
Recognition is not the end of war
Most political analysts, especially Middle East experts, agree that the recent wave of recognitions is unlikely to end the war in Gaza or bring immediate peace to the region. Still, they say the move carries political weight and subtly shifts the diplomatic landscape.
Tajik analyst Qosim Bekmuhammad, who has spent years covering the Middle East, believes the recognitions have significant implications. “Palestine now gains greater legal access to international institutions. Countries that recently recognized its independence may also begin to restrict military cooperation with Israel,” he noted.
Bekmuhammad added, “If even a few key Western and Eastern powers dare to impose economic and military sanctions on Israel, Netanyahu may be forced to reconsider. Otherwise, Israel could face serious internal economic and social consequences. But based on current developments, that level of pressure remains unlikely.”
In a podcast with The New York Times, legal scholar Philippe Sands said: “For many, this may seem symbolic, but it’s actually a game-changer. When you recognize the state of Palestine, you place it on equal legal footing with Israel,” as cited by Euronews.
Adnan Hamdon, a Palestinian political expert, called the recognitions a pivotal shift in the rhetoric of Western powers—particularly the UK—and a global affirmation of the Palestinian right to freedom and statehood. While he acknowledged that the recognitions won’t alter battlefield dynamics, he stressed they provide diplomatic leverage for the Palestinian cause.
Bilal Ashshubaki, a political science professor at Hebron University, told Al Jazeera that some countries used the recognition of Palestine as a tool to punish the Israeli regime and pressure an end to the Gaza genocide. However, he criticized the lack of more effective measures, such as sanctions or severing diplomatic ties, which could have had a stronger impact.
Where does this courage come from?
Nearly 60 years ago, the United Nations passed a resolution endorsing the "two states for two peoples" principle. Since then, nearly 150 countries have recognized Palestine, yet Israel and a few other nations continue to oppose Palestinian statehood.
Despite numerous UN resolutions and reports by global human rights organizations denouncing Israeli military actions in Gaza as genocide, Tel Aviv has faced little consequence. Ahead of the most recent UN General Assembly session, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected renewed efforts to establish a Palestinian state.
Qosim Bekmuhammad explains that Israel's defiance stems from unwavering U.S. support. “Israel receives unconditional military, economic, and media assistance from the United States. The U.S. has also vetoed every UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire or condemning the killing of civilians in Gaza,” he noted.
He added that Donald Trump had even proposed relocating Gaza's population to neighboring countries—a move that would violate international law.
“Israel’s ongoing military aggression allows the U.S. to act as the sole decision-maker in the Middle East while sidelining other global powers,” Bekmuhammad argued.
What’s the bottom line?
Palestine, along with allied nations such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, still refuses to recognize Israel and claims that the territories under Israeli control belong to the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, the current Israeli government remains firmly against Palestinian statehood.
The dominant view among the international community continues to be the implementation of the 1967 UN resolution, which envisions two states with clearly defined borders. Yet, with Israel enjoying consistent U.S. backing, that vision remains unrealized.
Bekmuhammad concludes: “Israel has built settlements deep inside Palestinian territory. Dismantling them would require intense international pressure, especially from the Islamic world. Unfortunately, that pressure is still lacking. There’s no easy solution.”
As of today, 157 countries have formally recognized the State of Palestine. The remaining holdouts are mostly small nations with limited influence in global affairs.
Руcский
