145+ Countries Call for International Recognition of Palestinian State Amid Growing Crisis in Gaza

An escalating number of nations are advocating for the international recognition of a Palestinian state, with over 145 countries now endorsing this call. The majority of these countries made their pledges in 1988, following the Palestine National Council’s (PNC) declaration of the state. Subsequently, numerous non-Western states followed suit throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

In the spring of 2024, several European and Caribbean nations, including Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway, and Spain, acknowledged a Palestinian state. At that time, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to heed global voices and halt the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

Recently, Australia, Canada, and France have declared intentions to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has hinted at recognizing a Palestinian state under certain conditions, including Israel’s agreement to a ceasefire in Gaza and other specified criteria.

These recent announcements position several Western allies at odds with the United States regarding Israel and its military campaign and aid policies.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has denounced the calls for recognition from European nations, deeming them as incentives for Hamas that undermine ceasefire negotiations. Similarly, US President Donald Trump has also criticized these appeals for state recognition.

This development occurs amidst mounting criticism of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade on aid supplies, which has drawn widespread condemnation from United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations.