France is poised to acknowledge Palestine’s sovereignty at the upcoming UN General Assembly, joining a growing list of countries that have formally recognized the State of Palestine. The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have already made official announcements, with Canada leading the way on Sunday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 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.” Australia and the UK followed suit shortly thereafter. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said their recognition is part of a coordinated international effort to generate momentum for a two‑state solution, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision aims to “revive the hope of peace and a two‑state solution.”
The United Nations General Assembly previously supported a resolution calling for a two‑state solution between Israel and Palestine, with only Washington and West Jerusalem opposing the measure. The UN’s response to the conflict has been limited to condemning Hamas’s attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in more than 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent siege of Gaza has created a devastating humanitarian crisis, with local health authorities reporting nearly 65,000 Palestinian deaths.
International criticism of the war has intensified, and several countries are now acknowledging Palestinian statehood. Russia, which has long recognized Palestine, views a two‑state solution as the only way to de‑escalate and end the Gaza war. At the upcoming UNGA session, France and Belgium are expected to follow the precedent and formally recognize Palestine.
The recognition announcements come as the global community prepares for the annual United Nations General Assembly summit in New York, where more than 140 world leaders will convene. The summit is expected to be dominated by discussions on the Middle‑East conflict, and the recent recognitions are likely to be a major topic of debate as nations seek a peaceful resolution.
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