Britain and France mull recognising a Palestinian state – will it impact Israel? Do London and Paris hold clout?
Britain and France, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, are signalling strong disapproval of Israel's military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died since the war escalated after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to around 250 abductions.
The UK's position is a political warning: resolve the conflict diplomatically or face increasing global recognition of a Palestinian state outside Israel's terms. Analysts say both London and Paris aim to revive momentum for a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said France is prepared to officially recognise a Palestinian state, but only if it proves useful in achieving a lasting political solution. He emphasised that recognition must not be symbolic but part of a broader diplomatic initiative that leads to peace.
Macron also warned that unilateral recognition without progress toward a two-state solution could inflame tensions rather than resolve them.
President Donald Trump brushed off French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.
'What he says doesn't matter,' Trump told reporters at the White House.
However, the US president said he believes there is starvation in Gaza, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's claim that no starvation exists.
Statehood under international law requires: A permanent population
Defined territory
A functioning government
Capacity to enter international relations
Experts argue that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which represents Palestinians abroad, broadly meet these criteria.
Yes — both politically and practically. Recognition strengthens the Palestinian claim to statehood, boosts their international legitimacy, and increases pressure on Israel.
As Professor Ardi Imseis told NYT, it could force nations to reassess deals with Israel, especially if they involve illegal settlements or occupied land. For instance, importing produce from West Bank settlements could breach international law once Palestine is officially recognised.
Legal experts point out that recognition could also accelerate moves in international courts, like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, where Israel is already facing scrutiny.
A total of 147 out of 193 UN member states have recognised Palestine. If Britain and France join, it will leave the US as the only Security Council permanent member opposed.
However, full UN membership still depends on US support — Washington's veto power prevents Palestine's upgrade from observer status.
Yes, their influence is considerable. As veto-wielding United Nations Security Council members, UK and France's stance could isolate Israel diplomatically and heighten pressure on Washington to reconsider its position.
Recognition may also prompt other hesitant Western nations to follow suit, particularly if no ceasefire is achieved and humanitarian conditions worsen.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), more than 500,000 people in Gaza — roughly one in four — are experiencing "catastrophic" hunger levels, the most severe classification.
The UN has warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza unless aid access improves drastically. A combination of siege tactics, bombings, and border closures has left large parts of the population without clean water, medical supplies, or sufficient food.
Many see recognition as a nudge toward restarting negotiations. 'Small steps like recognition make a contribution,' said international lawyer Paul Reichler to New York Times. 'The only viable solution remains two states for two peoples.'
However, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea. His coalition includes far-right ministers who oppose Palestinian statehood, and he risks losing their support if he softens his stance.
In a Tuesday statement, Netanyahu said Britain's move 'rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims.'
The UK and France's declarations may be largely symbolic for now, but their potential diplomatic and legal implications are real. Recognition of Palestine by two of the West's most powerful nations could reshape global discourse — and increase pressure on both Israel and the US to find a sustainable path to peace.
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Economic Times
37 minutes ago
- Economic Times
‘Haven't eaten for days, forced to dig his own grave': Family of Hamas hostage releases ‘propaganda' video with message for Netanyahu
Synopsis The family of Evyatar David, a 24-year-old hostage, released distressing video footage showing his severe starvation in Hamas captivity. The videos, dated July 27 and released August 2, depict David emaciated and documenting his meager meals, often consisting of just lentils or nothing at all. David emotionally appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, expressing feeling abandoned. Reuters Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and to end the war, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 2, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad A video footage of a 24-year-old hostage, Evyatar David, was released by his family in which he was seen starving for food and facing severe hardships. It was the second 'propaganda video,' which was made public a day after Hamas published what it claimed was a 'sign of life' from the captive. The initial footage, which was posted Friday (August 1, 2025), was released with the consent of the family and was confirmed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum a day the video, David appears severely emaciated, his bones protruding beneath his skin, according to Ynet News. He appears to be sitting in a tunnel, documenting his daily meals on a handwritten chart. On some days, it says 'no food,' and on others, just 'lentils.' The family on Saturday (August 2, 2025) also released a second video dated July 27, in which David, visibly weakened and gaunt, says he has been without proper food or water for an extended period and claims he was forced by his captors to dig his own grave. The family of the hostage released a second video on Saturday, August 2, 2025, dated July 27. In the footage, David, looking frail and thin, says he's gone a long time without proper food or water and claims his captors forced him to dig his own grave.'I don't know what I'm going to eat. I haven't eaten in days,' he said, as quoted by Ynet News. 'I've been living in a really difficult situation and have been for many months,' he further stated. Even though his captors likely dictated his words, David's appearance clearly shows his health is declining. 'I'm getting thinner and weaker by the day,' he said in the video. 'No meat, no chicken, no fish. Almost no bread. On Friday, July 4, I didn't eat anything. I'm writing everything down,' he added, referring to the food chart. David was seen reading aloud from the chart in the footage: 'Lentils, lentils, beans. On July 16 and 17, I ate nothing—two days in a row. Then more lentils, again lentils. On July 20, nothing again. Then lentils, and again nothing. Then again nothing, and again nothing. This can is for two days, just to keep me alive.' While addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, David made an emotional appeal, saying that he feels that he has been abandoned. 'I feel that I have been abandoned... I've been told that in Israel, the government cares for prisoners and cares for anyone imprisoned by the enemy. I feel that I have been abandoned by you and this government,' he said. 'Everything I was taught was simply not true,' he added, as quoted by Ynet News.'What I'm doing now is digging my own grave,' he adds. 'Each day, my body grows weaker and weaker. I'm walking directly to my grave. This is the grave where I think I'm going to be buried. Time is running out. You are the only ones who can end this, [so I can] be released and be able to sleep in my bed with my family.'In a strong statement against Hamas, David's family accused it of intentionally starving him for propaganda purposes. 'We are forced to witness our beloved Evyatar, our son and brother, being deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. He is a living skeleton, buried alive,' the statement said. 'Our son has only days left to live in his current state. Hamas is using Evyatar as a live experiment in a grotesque hunger campaign.'The family called the alleged starvation campaign 'one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen,' as quoted by and appealed to Israel and the international community to intervene. 'Israel and the international community must stand against Hamas' cruelty and ensure Evyatar receives immediate nutrition,' they said. 'This intentional starvation and abuse for propaganda purposes violates even the lowest standards of humanitarian law and basic human decency.'
Deccan Herald
37 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Realising the Palestinian state remains a complex challenge
Spurred by the declaration of French President Emmanuel Macron in early July, a host of Western powers are lining up and promising to recognise the State of Palestine next month, coinciding with the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Following similar announcements by Britain and Canada, an Australian minister remarked that his country's recognition was a matter of 'when, not if'.Currently, European nations such as Ireland, Norway, Spain and Sweden have already recognised the State of Palestine. The Gaza crisis and the escalating humanitarian catastrophe — widely feared to lead to mass starvation — are prompting many to push for the only viable option on the table: the two-state cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France convened a meeting in New York with the participation of key Western (Canada, Britain, Japan, and Spain), Arab (Egypt, Jordan and Qatar), Islamic (Indonesia and Türkiye) and Global South (Brazil and Senegal) powers. Much of the globe has already endorsed the New York Declaration, which outlines the contours, rationale and roadmap for a two-state solution. However, two notable dissenters remain: Israel and the United States. Israel has criticised Macron's recognition plan as a 'reward' for Hamas. Despite his frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu over delaying the Gaza ceasefire deal, the Trump Administration is reportedly fuming over Western powers taking the lead and has even threatened to punish Canada for its recognition under Russian missile attack, says Ukraine military .Recognition of the State of Palestine is largely a political act with legal implications. It assumes that the entity in question satisfies international criteria regarding territory, population, government, and, crucially, sovereignty. Countries only grant recognition after being satisfied that these conditions are met. As a sovereign decision, recognition is often used by countries to gain diplomatic leverage and strategic advantages. For instance, the US took more than two decades to accept the People's Republic of China and support its admission to the United Nations in 1971. For similar reasons, a vast number of countries—including some even today—have not recognised the State of Israel, despite it meeting all the criteria of an independent sovereign entity decades many others, India adopts a cautious approach when recognising and accepting a newly emerged entity into the international community. This caution was evident in its stance towards the then East Germany, which it recognised only in 1972, shortly before the latter joined the United Nations in September 1973. At the same time, India's immediate recognition of Bangladesh on 7 December 1971—amidst the war with Pakistan—paved the way for the latter's international same caution and legal considerations informed India's approach towards Palestine. Despite its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause dating back to the early 1920s, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru refrained from recognising the hastily formed and short-lived All-Palestine Government announced in the Gaza Strip in 1948. As global opinion began to coalesce around an independent Palestinian leadership under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), New Delhi initiated engagement with Yasser the wake of the 1973 oil crisis and the sudden rise in political clout of key oil-exporting nations— particularly Iraq and Saudi Arabia — the regional stance towards the Palestinian leadership began to shift. At the Rabat Arab Summit in October 1974, the Arab League recognised the PLO as the 'sole and legitimate' representative of the Palestinians. This led India to sign a formal agreement with the PLO in January of the following year, soon after which an independent PLO office began functioning in New her landslide victory in the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi extended full diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian mission in March, granting it all diplomatic privileges and immunities on par with United Nations missions. The first Intifada prompted the PLO to accept the UN's partition plan for Palestine — albeit four decades late — indicating its readiness to coexist with the State of Israel. Consequently, India became one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988. The Palestinian mission in New Delhi was upgraded to a full-fledged embassy. At that time, the Israeli consulate in Mumbai remained limited in function and jurisdiction, primarily serving the state of then, India has hosted both Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas as heads of state. The last such visit occurred in May 2017, when Prime Minister Modi hosted Abbas. Following the Oslo Accords, India also opened a diplomatic mission in Gaza City, which was later relocated to the West Bank due to worsening security conditions, which also forced Arafat to move his headquarters to support for the two-state solution has remained consistent, vocal and unwavering. Even after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, India reiterated its backing for the two-state framework. During a detailed media briefing on 12 October, the MEA spokesperson reaffirmed India's consistent support for 'a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine, living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel.'Despite growing normalisation and deepening strategic ties with Israel, India's commitment to the two-state solution remains resolute. The rising support among key Western powers only reinforces the strength and vision of India's long-held position. Yet, without active American support and endorsement, France and its European and Arab allies may struggle to realise Palestinian statehood — and this remains a major hurdle.(The writer teaches contemporary Middle East at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi)
United News of India
37 minutes ago
- United News of India
Iran's IRGC slams efforts for two-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, condemns killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
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