UN General Assembly to Discuss Palestinian Statehood Amidst Ongoing Gaza Conflict

"...Israel and its allies call the designation "political theater."..."

"...Supporters of Palestinian rights say formal recognition is just the first step...."

"...Most of the recent European declarations on recognizing Palestinian statehood have come as a result of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 65,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, although international researchers have estimated the toll much higher...."

"...Last Monday, the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory published a report concluding that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza...."

"...Israel and its primary ally, the United States, have rejected this report and others that have come to the same conclusion and denounced any plans to recognize Palestine as a state, claiming that doing so would be a "reward for terror" — referring to the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel led by the militant Hamas group, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and preceded Israel's military campaign in Gaza...."

"...Even supporters of Palestinians say recognizing Palestine as a state could be insufficient if it's not combined with action...."

"...There is also concern about how Israel would react to a new batch of recognitions, Richard Gowan, the UN director for think tank International Crisis Group, wrote this week in the US-based policy journal Just Security...."

"...It's clear that recognition of a Palestinian state alone won't stop Israel's war in Gaza...."

"...In fact, as legal experts point out, the issues are separate. Whether Palestine is a state or not, international law already obligates other nations to do whatever they can to stop a suspected genocide from taking place...."

"...What recognition of a Palestinian state could do is make a stronger case for a ceasefire within existing international diplomatic, bureaucratic and legal structures...."

"...Bilateral recognition could be considered a form of diplomatic upgrade. Recognizing countries — say, France or Belgium — must review ties with Palestine, as well as assess their legal obligations toward it. That's why it could also lead to a review of ties with Israel, they argue...."

"...But it must be accompanied by practical steps, Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow with the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told DW...."

"...It is true that recognition is very symbolic, conceded. "But symbolism is not always a bad thing. Given the countries doing the recognizing — France and the UK, in particular — it is an important reaffirmation of Palestinian rights and self-determination, the right to live free from occupation, the right to statehood and so on."..."

"...Still, symbolic measures must be accompanied by practical steps, he said...."

"...At a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, encouraged member states to increase tariffs on some Israeli goods and to sanction settlers and two senior Israeli politicians. These are measures that experts at the ECFR have previously recommended. A source in Brussels told DW that Italy, which had previously opposed stopping the EU's scientific funding for Israel, might even drop its objections soon...."

"..."Even three years ago, recognition might have been the end of the story," Lovatt said. "But I think, because things have moved on so dramatically in terms of public and political opinion, it is no longer a question of either you recognize [Palestine] or you do something else."..."

"...At the moment multiple measures are being advanced simultaneously, Lovatt said, and that's reflective of how public opinion across the political spectrum has changed since 2023...."

"..."[Recognition] should be seen as the trajectory of travel," Lovatt said. "We may not get there tomorrow, but the trajectory is clear."..."