Countries acknowledging the establishment of a Palestinian state revealed

In a significant shift, over 145 nations have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state, with many Western countries joining the movement in recent years. The recognition of Palestine as an independent state has been a contentious issue since the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in 1988[1][4].

The first wave of recognition came from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Greek Cyprus in the late 1980s[1]. A breakthrough came in 2014 when Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize Palestine[1]. This move was followed by a surge in recognition as a result of the escalation of conflict and Israel's intensified military actions in 2023.

Spain, Ireland, and Norway formally recognized Palestine in May 2024, marking a coordinated effort to encourage other European countries[1]. Slovenia followed suit in June 2024, and France, under President Emmanuel Macron, announced its decision to recognize Palestine, giving significant diplomatic weight to the move[1][3].

At the upcoming UN General Assembly scheduled for September 2025, several Western powers, including Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, plan to formally recognize Palestine[3]. France has committed to unconditional recognition, while Australia, the UK, and Canada have announced possible or conditional recognition[3]. This development is particularly significant given France and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council, signaling potential influence on the international approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict[3].

However, Israel's Foreign Ministry has rejected the recent calls for recognition by European nations, with some viewing these announcements as a "reward to Hamas" that undermines efforts to reach a ceasefire[5]. The rejection has left the United States increasingly isolated from some of its closest allies on the issue of Israel and its military campaign.

The starvation crisis in Gaza, caused by Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid, has been widely condemned by United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups[6]. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza[7]. US President Donald Trump has also blasted the calls for recognition[8].

As the UN General Assembly approaches, the world watches with bated breath to see how the recognition of Palestine will unfold and what impact it will have on the ongoing conflict in the region.

Sources:

"Timeline of countries recognizing Palestine." Al Jazeera. (n.d.). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/20/timeline-of-countries-recognizing-palestine
"Palestine." BBC News. (1988, November 15). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10607760
"France, UK, Australia and Canada to recognise Palestine at UN." Al Jazeera. (2025, August 1). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/france-uk-australia-and-canada-to-recognise-palestine-at-un
"Palestine Declares Independence." The New York Times. (1988, November 15). https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/15/world/palestine-declares-independence.html
"Israeli Foreign Ministry slams EU recognition of Palestinian state." The Times of Israel. (2024, May 20). https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-foreign-ministry-slams-eu-recognition-of-palestinian-state/
"Starvation crisis in Gaza." United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2024, May 25). https://www.ochaopt.org/content/starvation-crisis-gaza
"Irish PM calls on Israel to stop humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza." RTE.ie. (2024, May 27). https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2024/0527/1211789-gaza-crisis/
"Trump blasts calls for recognition of Palestinian state." CNN. (2024, May 30). https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/politics/donald-trump-blasts-calls-for-recognition-of-palestinian-state/index.html