France is set to acknowledge Palestine’s sovereignty at the upcoming UN General Assembly, following the lead of several countries that have formally recognized the State of Palestine. The UK, Canada, and Australia have made official announcements, with Canada being the first to do so on Sunday. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Ottawa “recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the state of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
The move was shortly followed by similar announcements from Australia and the UK. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong explained that their country’s recognition of Palestine is part of a coordinated international effort to build momentum for a two-state solution. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the decision aims to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution.”
The United Nations General Assembly had previously supported a resolution calling for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, with Washington and West Jerusalem being among the few countries to oppose the measure. The UN had limited itself to condemning the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the taking of over 250 hostages. The subsequent Israeli siege of Gaza has led to a devastating humanitarian situation, with nearly 65,000 Palestinians dead, according to local health authorities.
The international community has been increasingly critical of the war, with many countries condemning the conflict and some choosing to acknowledge Palestinian statehood. Russia, which has long recognized the State of Palestine, views a two-state solution as the only way to deescalate and end the Gaza War. At the upcoming UNGA session, France and Belgium are expected to follow suit and formally recognize Palestine.
The recognition of Palestine by these countries comes as the international community prepares to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly summit in New York. The summit is expected to be dominated by questions regarding the region, and the recent announcements are likely to be a major topic of discussion. With over 140 world leaders set to attend, the summit will provide a platform for countries to address the ongoing conflict and work towards a peaceful resolution.
