UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Dozens of world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Monday in support of Palestinian statehood, marking a landmark diplomatic shift nearly two years into the Gaza war. The move faces strong resistance from Israel and its closest ally, the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting a high-level meeting alongside Saudi Arabia, announced that France would formally recognise Palestine.
The declaration, met with prolonged applause, was hailed as a morale boost for Palestinians, though analysts cautioned it may not change realities on the ground. 
“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution—Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” Macron told world leaders.
Israel Pushes Back 
Israel’s most hardline government in history has rejected any prospect of Palestinian statehood, insisting its military campaign against Hamas will continue until the group is destroyed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington before returning to Israel, has repeatedly vowed not to recognise a Palestinian state.
Israel has come under mounting international condemnation for its operations in Gaza, where local health authorities report more than 65,000 Palestinians killed since the war began. In recent weeks, Israel launched a full-scale ground assault on Gaza City, with little sign of a ceasefire.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the government would discuss its response to the recognitions after Netanyahu’s return, calling Monday’s diplomatic moves “unilateral” and “counterproductive.”
A Wave of Recognition
France’s announcement followed similar steps from Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, San Marino, Malta, and Monaco, while Canada, Britain, and Australia also confirmed recognition over the weekend. Macron outlined conditions for France’s deeper engagement, including reforms within the Palestinian Authority, a ceasefire, and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied a U.S. visa and unable to attend, addressed the gathering via video. He urged world leaders to push for Palestine’s full UN membership, promising reforms and elections within a year of any ceasefire.
Currently, Palestine holds only observer status at the UN, lacking voting rights. Full membership requires Security Council approval, where the U.S. retains veto power.
Divisions in Europe
While most European nations now back Palestinian statehood, Germany and Italy remain opposed. Germany—long a staunch ally of Israel due to Holocaust history—has grown more critical of Israeli policies but insists recognition should follow a negotiated peace deal. Italy warned recognition could prove “counterproductive.”
Israel, meanwhile, is weighing retaliatory measures against Paris and has even floated annexing parts of the occupied West Bank—a move that could alienate Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The UAE has already cautioned that annexation would “undermine the spirit” of that agreement.
U.S. Stands Firm
The U.S. and Israel boycotted Monday’s UN session. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned earlier this month that unilateral recognition of Palestine would “create more problems” rather than resolve them. Washington has also hinted at consequences for countries taking action against Israel, including France as summit host.
With violence in Gaza escalating and Israeli settler attacks rising in the West Bank, many nations say time is running out to save the two-state solution once envisioned under the Oslo Accords. No substantive peace negotiations have taken place since 2014.
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