Crowds gathered across the West Bank on Tuesday to celebrate a wave of recognitions of a Palestinian state by major Western powers, even as Israeli leaders threatened harsh countermeasures.
But as most of the world, including major first-world countries, now recognises a Palestinian state, the question remains whether these nations, acting as a global institution, can actually stop the brutal war between Hamas and Israel. The conflict, triggered on October 7, 2023, has killed thousands of Palestinians and displaced hundreds of thousands more. As Donald Trump said, “globalist institutions have decayed the world order.” The pressing issue is whether recognition by major powers will make any real difference for Palestine.
151 of the 193 UN member states in favour of Palestine
A majority of European nations now formally recognise a Palestinian state. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra and Monaco issued their declarations in New York on Monday, joining Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal who made the move a day earlier.
According to an AFP tally, at least 151 of the 193 United Nations member states now recognise Palestine, or nearly 80 percent. Russia, India, China, most Arab, African, Asian and Latin American nations are already on the list. India was one of the first countries to do so in 1988. Another wave of recognitions came in 2010 and 2011.
However, 39 countries including the United States, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Germany have not recognised Palestinian statehood.
Can an independent Palestinian state work? Experts weigh in
Legal experts say recognition carries a lot of political and symbolic weight, though it does not itself create a state.
“Recognition does not mean that a state has been created, no more than the lack of recognition prevents the state from existing,” said Romain Le Boeuf, professor of international law at the University of Aix-Marseille. He described recognition as a “halfway point” between law and politics, with no formal registry to track such decisions.
Franco-British lawyer Philippe Sands said that symbolism matters. “I know for many people this seems only symbolic, but actually in terms of symbolism, it is sort of a game changer. Because once you recognise Palestinian statehood, you essentially put Palestine and Israel on level footing in terms of their treatment under international law,” he told a New York Times.
'We don’t want words, we want action'
Amid diplomatic momentum, many Palestinians remain sceptical. Roula Ghaneb, an academic from Tulkarem, stood silently in Ramallah holding a photograph of her son Yazan, arrested eight months ago. “He was arrested at our home eight months ago,” she said, describing his poor detention conditions. “We don’t want words, we want action.”
Jamila Abdul, from a village near Ramallah, said: “Palestine is being exterminated today in Gaza and the West Bank in various ways. If they want to recognise something, they must recognise the genocide that is taking place today, put an end to these atrocities and punish Israel for these crimes.”
Israel ready with 'immediate countermeasures'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out the idea, saying “a Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Israeli officials also reacted angrily to the announcements. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the recognitions required “immediate countermeasures” including annexation of the occupied West Bank. He vowed to submit a proposal to Israel’s Cabinet to apply “sovereignty” in the territory and threatened “the complete crushing” of the Palestinian Authority.
US backs Israel as UN supporters of Palestine watch Trump slam recognition
At the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump condemned the recognitions as “a reward” for Hamas. “As if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities,” he said.
Trump called instead for a ceasefire and hostage release. “We have to stop the war in Gaza immediately. We have to stop it. We have to negotiate immediately. Have to negotiate peace. We got to get the hostages back.”
Does the two-state solution hold any power?
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the two-state solution and pledged new EU initiatives. “We will set up a Palestine Donor Group. Because any future Palestinian state must be viable also from an economic point of view. And we Europeans will set up a dedicated instrument for Gaza’s reconstruction. Gaza must be rebuilt,” she said.
Palestinian President Abbas also addressed the summit by video link, as the US denied him a visa. He said that only the Palestinian Authority could govern Gaza.
“The state of Palestine is the only entity eligible to assume full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza. Hamas will have no role in governing. What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security force, " said Abbas.