Palestine gains international recognition amid Israeli war on Gaza

By Melika Pala

As Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continues, an increasing number of countries have formally recognized the State of Palestine, bolstering its international standing.

Since Israel began its latest offensive on Oct. 7 last year, the death toll in Gaza has reached 41,825 Palestinians, including nearly 17,000 children and 11,378 women. Around 97,000 others have been wounded.

As the violence escalates, several nations have recognized Palestine as an independent state.

The move is seen as a significant symbolic gesture, signaling to Israel that its actions cannot continue unchecked. Although international recognition alone may not immediately change the reality on the ground, it represents a shift that could influence future negotiations and the broader peace process.

The number of countries recognizing Palestine now stands at 146 following decisions by Spain, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Armenia, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados.

-Growing global support

From Paris to Madrid and Stockholm to London, crowds have taken to the streets demanding their governments recognize Palestine. The growing support has intensified calls for a two-state solution, prompting several countries to reassess their positions on the issue.

Palestine’s recent recognition by Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and Norway marks a shift in Europe, where most Western nations except Iceland and Sweden had previously refrained from acknowledging Palestinian statehood.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the decision as “historic,” emphasizing that recognizing Palestine is not only about justice but also necessary for achieving peace.

Ireland, meanwhile, framed its recognition as a matter of supporting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

In April and May, four Caribbean nations – the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados -- added their support, strengthening Palestine's international backing.

Colombia followed suit, cutting diplomatic ties with Israel over the ongoing Gaza war and ordering the opening of an embassy in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

-More countries may recognize Palestine

The wave of recognition for Palestine is expected to continue in Europe. France has indicated that recognizing Palestine is no longer a “taboo,” while Malta, Luxembourg, Belgium and Finland have expressed readiness to act when the timing is right.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted that strategic timing would be essential to promoting peace in the Middle East.

Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel stressed that recognition should go beyond symbolic gestures and called for coordinated action among countries that have yet to take a stance.

International efforts to push for a two-state solution also remain active. High-level representatives from Muslim and Arab nations gathered in Spain on Sept.13, urging the international community to establish a roadmap for implementing a two-state solution in the Middle East.

-Israel's pushback

As Palestine’s global recognition grows, Israel has responded by targeting countries that have taken the step of formal acknowledgment.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the recognition of Palestine a threat to Israel’s sovereignty and security. Israel recalled its ambassadors from Spain, Ireland and Norway, citing their recent actions as reasons for strained diplomatic relations.

In another retaliatory move, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered the withholding of $35 million in tax revenues from Palestine, framing it as a punitive measure against the Palestinian leadership’s pursuit of international recognition without negotiations.

-Path to full UN membership

While Palestine continues to strengthen its global recognition, its status at the UN remains a focal point.

Recognized as a non-member observer state since 2012, Palestine has long sought full membership.

In a vote on May 10, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution acknowledging that Palestine meets the membership criteria outlined in Article 4 of the UN Charter. The resolution passed with overwhelming support, with 143 nations in favor, nine against and 25 abstentions.

Although the resolution does not grant full membership, it calls on the UN Security Council to revisit Palestine’s application, further underscoring international backing for Palestinian self-determination.

-Israel’s illegal occupation documented

Alongside its Gaza genocide, Israel continues its illegal occupation of the West Bank. A ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, a case in which Türkiye also participated, reaffirmed that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law and must end.

Shahd Hammouri, a lecturer at Kent Law School in the UK, told Anadolu that Israel’s year-long Gaza war has played a role in the growing recognition of Palestine.

“That is in the fact that, from an international legal perspective, the illegalities committed by Israel have reached a point where there is no discussion. So any state that is claiming to uphold international law doesn't have a logical argument to deny a Palestinian right of self-determination and to also speak against Israel's acts in Palestine,” Hammouri said.

She highlighted, however, the West’s hesitancy to take a clear stance, particularly due to the influence of the US and obligations tied to NATO membership.

“We have a very clear indication that the big US scarecrow is one of the reasons why states are afraid to take a position, and there is also fear of abiding by NATO obligations.”

Hammouri criticized the recognition decisions as being merely "symbolic,” saying countries continue to allow arms sales and trade with Israel, which enables it to sustain its genocide.

She called this international “hypocrisy.”

“We see a lot of hypocrisy and a lot of diplomatic empty words that do not actually exert pressure on Israel, nor do they rise to the level of catastrophe that we are seeing.”

- No change among ‘people who have privilege and capacity to change things’

While public support for Palestine grows, Hammouri noted that the same change has not occurred among “the people who have the privilege and capacity to change things.”

“That is the problem. It is growing among the youth and growing among people of the working class. There is much more understanding of what the Israeli project means, and much more clarity about what is settler colonization, what is genocide, and who are the Palestinians.

“As a teacher as well, I can see the difference in my students and their understanding of things, and especially from a place like the UK. However, the main problem is that, for example, in the UK, you have had millions of people go to the streets, almost like a minimum 10,000 people each week. And yet, the UK’s position has been stringently repetitive. It stands with Israel's right to defend itself, which, again, from an international legal perspective, Israel does not have the right to defend itself against Palestine. That's what the International Court of Justice said. It's been said 1,000 times, yet politicians keep on repeating it.”

Hammouri argued that Israel’s position as a base for US geopolitical interests in the Middle East explains why stronger international actions have not been taken.

“Israel is not even representing itself. It is representing the US geopolitical position in the Middle East. It's an outpost of the US for its Middle Eastern politics.

“The US’ decisions to support Israel are not based on, they're not asking for the opinion of the people, nor are they asking for the opinion of international law. The decisions are being made completely on the premises of geopolitics and economics and whatever serves the status quo to remain as it is,” she added.