A substantial majority of United Nations member states endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state.
European Countries Recognize State of Palestine Amid Gaza Conflict
The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, has sparked a renewed push for the recognition of the State of Palestine. Since the start of the conflict, several countries have either recognized Palestine or announced their intention to do so, particularly in 2024 and 2025.
In spring 2024, Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia—all EU members—took the step to recognize the State of Palestine. Norway made the move on May 22, followed by Spain and Ireland on May 28, and Slovenia in June.
In 2025, Belgium and Luxembourg announced their recognition of Palestine in May, with Malta following suit in June. French President Emmanuel Macron declared France's intention to formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly session in September 2025, making France the first G7 country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council to take such a step. Diplomatic sources suggest that the United Kingdom and Portugal also plan to join this recognition initiative ahead of the September 2025 UN session.
Before these recent developments, 147 UN member states had already recognized Palestine. However, these new recognitions, including from several European countries and potentially more from the G7, represent significant political shifts amid the Gaza conflict.
The recognition process is aimed at reviving the peace process, supporting Palestinian self-determination, and increasing diplomatic pressure connected to the ongoing conflict. It's important to note that these steps do not directly change Palestine’s UN legal status.
While Sweden recognized the State of Palestine in 2014, leading to strained relations with Israel, several other countries have followed suit more recently. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Bahamas, and Armenia recognized the State of Palestine in 2024. Finland and Portugal have expressed their willingness to recognize the State of Palestine or have given positive consideration by late July.
On the other hand, Hungary and the Czech Republic have expressed reservations about recognizing the State of Palestine. France, Australia, and Canada plan to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN in September. The United Kingdom plans to recognize the State of Palestine unless Israel commits to not annexing the West Bank and accepts a peace process aiming for a two-state solution.
| Country/Entity | Recognition Status (Post-2023 Gaza War) | |----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Norway | Recognized (May 2024) | | Spain | Recognized (May 2024) | | Ireland | Recognized (May 2024) | | Slovenia | Recognized (June 2024) | | Belgium | Recognized (May 2025) | | Luxembourg | Recognized (May 2025) | | Malta | Recognized (June 2025) | | France | Declared intention to recognize (July 2025) | | United Kingdom | Plans to recognize (2025) | | Portugal | Plans to recognize (2025) |
These steps reflect an effort by these nations to support Palestinian self-determination and push forward diplomacy related to the conflict.
Arts and politics intertwine as several European countries use policy-and-legislation and recognition of the State of Palestine to express their stand on the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip. For instance, France intends to formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly session in September 2025, not only as a political statement but also to increase diplomatic pressure connected to the ongoing conflict.
The growing number of countries acknowledging Palestine's statehood is captured in the 'general-news,' indicating a shift in global perspectives on the region's political landscape amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
