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Palestinian Arabs

Palestinian Statehood Gains Momentum as 145 UN Members Plan Recognition

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza has renewed a global push for Palestinian statehood, with at least 145 of the 193 UN members recognizing or planning to recognize a Palestinian state. This move marks a significant shift in the long-held view that Palestinians could only gain statehood through a negotiated peace with Israel. Australia has become the latest country to promise recognition, joining France, Canada, and Britain in backing the move. The push for Palestinian statehood has been a decade-long journey, with milestones including the 1988 declaration of independence by Yasser Arafat and the 2012 upgrade of the Palestinian status at the UN.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 145 of the 193 UN members recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state, with Australia, France, Canada, and Britain leading the way.
  • The Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza has boosted support for Palestinian statehood, with four Caribbean countries and Armenia recognizing Palestinian statehood in 2024, and four European countries doing so in the same year.
  • The International Criminal Court accepted the Palestinians as a state party in 2015, and the UN cultural agency Unesco voted to accept the Palestinians as a full member in 2011.
  • The push for Palestinian statehood has been a decade-long journey, with milestones including the 1988 declaration of independence by Yasser Arafat and the 2012 upgrade of the Palestinian status at the UN.
  • The recognition of Palestinian statehood is a significant shift in the long-held view that Palestinians could only gain statehood through a negotiated peace with Israel.

Statistics:

  • 145 out of 193 UN members recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
  • 4 Caribbean countries (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the Bahamas) and Armenia recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024.
  • 4 European countries (Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia) recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024.
  • The International Criminal Court accepted the Palestinians as a state party in 2015.
  • The UN cultural agency Unesco voted to accept the Palestinians as a full member in 2011.
  • In 2012, the Palestinian flag was raised for the first time at the UN in New York after the General Assembly voted to upgrade the status of the Palestinians to "non-member observer state".

Sources:

  • AFP

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