At the opening of the 80th United Nations General Assembly this week, dozens of nations formally recognized the State of Palestine in what diplomats are calling the largest collective push for Palestinian statehood in recent decades. The surge of recognition comes amid the intensifying war in Gaza and stalled peace negotiations, spotlighting shifting global attitudes toward the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict.
In a virtual address after being denied a U.S. visa Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel’s military campaign and called for renewed international backing. “We call for your support so that Palestine becomes a full-fledged member of the United Nations,” he said, also pledging internal reforms and elections following a ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a summit on the sidelines of the Assembly, announced that France would formally recognise Palestine, saying, “We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution.”
Among other recent recognitions: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and Andorra joined the list of states now treating Palestine as a sovereign entity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the wave of recognition, calling it “an absurd prize for terrorism” and asserting that such declarations “will not bind Israel in any way.”
Still, the diplomatic shift is largely symbolic: Palestine remains a UN non-member observer state, and full membership would require a vote in the Security Council, where any of the five permanent members can veto a resolution.
Diplomats say the timing is significant — the Gaza war has led many countries to believe that fresh diplomatic pressure may help prevent the collapse of the two-state framework. “We must pave the way for peace,” Macron stated.
As of September 2025, roughly 151 of the 193 UN member states formally recognise Palestine, according to an AFP tally.
African States Yet to Recognize Palestine
While nearly all African nations have recognised Palestinian statehood, there are still a few that have not, as of the most recent confirmed counts. Cameroon and Eritrea remain among the countries on the continent that do not officially recognise the State of Palestine.
