[Global Focus] International Community at a Crossroads Over Recognition of Palestine as a State

UK, France, and Canada: "We Will Recognize Palestine as a State"
US: "Recognition Rewards Hamas"
"'Two-State Solution' Must Be the Starting Point for a Breakthrough"

The international community is divided over the recognition of a Palestinian state. As the prolonged war in the Gaza Strip intensifies the humanitarian crisis, major European countries are seeking a solution through the "two-state solution," while the United States continues to maintain its distance. There is growing attention as to whether the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, scheduled for next month, could serve as a turning point in resolving the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine.

'Two-State Solution' Proposed by Europe... "Palestine Is a State"

On June 24 (local time), French President Emmanuel Macron announced via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "France has decided to recognize Palestine as a state," adding, "We will solemnly declare this at the UN General Assembly in September." President Macron also expressed his intention to persuade other partner countries to join in, as stated in a letter sent to Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA). France is the first major Western country to recognize Palestine as a state.

President Macron has consistently supported the recognition of a Palestinian state and advocated for the "two-state solution." Once considered the official approach to resolving the conflict, the two-state solution-where Israel and Palestine mutually recognize each other as independent states and coexist peacefully-had lost momentum due to doubts over its feasibility. Regarding the timing of the "September UN General Assembly" mentioned by President Macron, a senior official from the French presidential office stated, "France will not be the only country to recognize Palestine in September," adding, "The president's announcement is intended to put some pressure on other countries."

Following France, the United Kingdom also declared that it would recognize Palestine as a state if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza by September. On June 29, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, "The two-state solution is in crisis. Now is the time to act." He added that the final decision would be made after evaluating whether specific measures are implemented, including Israel's abandonment of plans to annex the West Bank and the release of hostages and disarmament by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

There has been a consistent view within the international community that the UK's stance is particularly important for resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In 1917, the UK expressed support for the establishment of a "national home" for the Jewish people in the Palestinian region through the Balfour Declaration, which took the form of a letter sent to Walter Rothschild, a representative of the Jewish community. This declaration is regarded as a decisive event that sowed the seeds of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The day after the UK announced its willingness to recognize Palestine as a state, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his intention to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. On the 31st, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced that he would consult with the president and parliament on whether to recognize Palestine as a state.

Trump Responds Immediately... "Rewarding Hamas"

On June 9 (local time), a man holds a sign reading "Freedom for Palestine" at a protest held at Place de la Republique in Paris, France. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Of the 193 UN member states, 147-including Russia, China, and Spain-have already recognized Palestine as a state. If France and the UK join in recognizing statehood, the United States would become the only permanent member of the UN Security Council to maintain its opposition.

In response to these moves by the international community, U.S. President Donald Trump immediately pushed back. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated at a briefing on the 31st, "President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction and opposition to France, the UK, and Canada for recognizing Palestine as a state," adding, "He believes that recognizing Palestinian statehood is tantamount to rewarding Hamas."

In contrast to President Trump's "pro-Israel" stance, public opinion within the United States has become increasingly critical of Israel. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in March, half of Republican supporters under the age of 50 and 71% of Democratic supporters view Israel negatively. In a May survey by Ipsos and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA), 61% of Americans responded that "Israel plays a negative role in resolving major conflicts in the Middle East."

Experts have pointed out that U.S. policy toward the Middle East needs to be adjusted in response to these shifts in public opinion. Zaha Hassan, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), stated, "President Trump must acknowledge the reality that Hamas cannot be eliminated completely in the short term, and place the issue of establishing a Palestinian state at the center of diplomatic dialogue." She added, "The United States should pursue a peace plan that can earn broad support across the Middle East and Europe. Only with such support can the billions of dollars needed for Gaza's reconstruction be secured."

Hassan also emphasized the importance of President Trump changing his perception of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She said, "President Trump may not fully recognize that Prime Minister Netanyahu's political identity is rooted in denying Palestinian nationhood," adding, "If President Trump wants to be remembered in history as a 'peace mediator' in the Middle East, he must play a role in persuading Israel to accept a realistic peace plan."

'Two-State Solution' Faces Limitations... "Institutional Foundation Must Come First"

As the conflict between Israel and Palestine intensifies, skepticism is growing over whether the "two-state solution" can remain a realistic answer. Core issues such as settlements, refugees, and sovereignty over Jerusalem remain unresolved, and there are increasing concerns that unilateral domination and annexation by force, rather than peaceful separation, are becoming the reality.

There is also debate over whether granting statehood to Palestine is appropriate. Currently, there is no unified government administering both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and it is uncertain whether Palestine meets the requirements for statehood under international law. This is why there are calls for a solid institutional foundation rather than merely declarative recognition of statehood.

Marc Lynch, professor of international relations at George Washington University, pointed out that concrete changes and actions are necessary for the "two-state solution" to be realized. He stated, "Given the current realities in Gaza and the West Bank, it is difficult to imagine both sides dividing territory and coexisting. Moreover, the Israeli government has made it clear that it has no interest in the two-state solution."

He continued, "For the UN meeting to serve as a meaningful turning point in resolving the conflict, it must present concrete measures to protect Palestinian residents and restore the collapsed administrative and economic infrastructure. If Israel continues to violate international law, it is also necessary to establish clear consequences for such actions."