The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has reignited global support for Palestinian statehood. Since the October 7 attack, more nations have called for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.
Recently, Norway, Spain, and Ireland recognized the state of Palestine, diverging from the traditional Western stance that Palestinian statehood should come through negotiations with Israel. This brings the total to 145 out of 193 UN member states that recognize Palestine.
This group includes many countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, but excludes the United States, Canada, most of Western Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
In April, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that aimed to make Palestine a full UN member state.
Here’s a brief overview of the Palestinians’ journey toward statehood:
1988: Arafat Proclaims State
On November 15, 1988, during the first intifada, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital at a meeting in Algiers. Algeria was the first to recognize the state, followed by numerous Arab, African, and European countries.
2010-2011: South American Support
The second major wave of recognitions came from South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, responding to Israel’s resumption of settlement building in the West Bank.
2011-2012: UN Recognition Efforts
In 2011, the Palestinians sought full UN membership, which did not succeed. However, in a landmark move, UNESCO accepted Palestine as a full member, leading to the US and Israel suspending their funding. In 2012, the UN General Assembly upgraded Palestine’s status to “non-member observer state,” and in 2015, the International Criminal Court recognized Palestine as a state party.
2014: Sweden’s Recognition
Sweden became the first Western European EU member to recognize Palestine in 2014, following significant unrest in Jerusalem. Other European countries that previously recognized Palestine include Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
2024: Renewed European Support
The recent escalation in Gaza, resulting in over 36,050 Palestinian deaths and more than 1,170 Israeli deaths, has strengthened European support for Palestinian statehood. Spain, Norway, and Ireland have officially recognized Palestine, with Malta and Slovenia indicating readiness to follow suit. Australia and France have also expressed potential support for Palestinian statehood.
This surge in recognition highlights the growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood amid ongoing conflict.
