Friday briefing: Has the recognition of a Palestinian state ​gather​ed ​an unstoppable ​pace​?

The Guardian

4 days ago

Good morning. It started in the Caribbean: Barbados and Jamaica recognised a Palestinian state in April 2024. Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas followed weeks later, meaning that all Caribbean Community states had recognised Palestine. At the end of May 2024, Ireland, Spain and Norway formally recognised Palestine.
Then it spread. Last month, France became the first G7 country to announce it would follow suit, pledging recognition this September. Malta, the UK and Canada have signalled they could do the same, though London and Ottawa attached conditions. Other countries, including Andorra, Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal and San Marino, have signed a declaration that indicates they may be next.
The shrinking number of countries refusing to recognise Palestine has played a significant role in this surge. It's a club few now want to be part of. So too has a landmark ruling from last year's International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel. Not the case examining whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which will take years to conclude, but the one on the legality of Israel's nearly six-decade-long occupation of the Palestinian territories.
To understand how this ruling has galvanised recognition as well as growing calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel, I spoke to Haroon Siddique, the Guardian's legal affairs correspondent. That's after the headlines.
Gaza | At least 91 people have been killed and 600 wounded while waiting for aid in Gaza over the past 24 hours, as the US envoy, Steve Witkoff, visits Israel for ceasefire discussions and to inspect food distribution.
NHS | Nine out of 10 nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have rejected their 3.6% pay award and have warned that they could strike later this year unless their salaries are improved.
Science | The world's 'oldest baby' has been born in the US from an embryo that was frozen in 1994, it has been reported.
US news | US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from dozens of trade partners in his latest attempt to reshape the global economy.
Hong Kong | Former Hong Kong politician and prominent democracy campaigner Carmen Lau has accused British police of requesting she 'self-censor' and retreat from public life.
Hold your breath, but we'll need to start with a little history lesson – specifically the events of 1967. After the six-day war between Israel and four Arab states, Israeli forces took control of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as the Golan Heights and Sinai, in a series of rapid military advances. This reshaped the balance of power in the region.
The war later opened the door to peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, but it also marked the start of a decades-long occupation of what the international community recognises as the Palestinian territories: East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. With the peace process long stalled and illegal settlements in those areas continuing to expand, the situation has hardened into a brutal, prolonged and unresolved impasse.
Mainstream Israeli politics includes voices asserting that Israel has a rightful claim to all the occupied territories, and harder-line positions calling for the expulsion of Palestinians have also influenced government policy in recent years, as Benjamin Netanyahu moved further right to retain control of his coalition.
In 2022, the Palestinian delegation at the UN asked the general assembly to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ on whether Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories complied with international law, the legality of the settlements, and how other states should respond. The request passed with majority support, Haroon told me.
'The judgment that followed was historic because of how unequivocal and wide-ranging it was.'
The question of apartheid
This time last year, the ICJ ordered Israel to immediately end its occupation of the Palestinian territories and pay full reparations to Palestinians. The advisory opinion concluded that Israel had violated international law in several ways, including denying Palestinians their inalienable right to self determination and inflicting policies that amounted to apartheid.
Perhaps most importantly, the court advised that other states are obliged not to recognise the occupation as lawful and not to aid or assist it.
'It also said Israel needed to make full reparations for wrongful acts and essentially concluded that what Israel was doing violated international law,' Haroon said.
'Some people interpreted the judgment as saying there was apartheid, and to me it seemed explicit. They said settlers and Palestinians are treated differently and that's enshrined in Israeli law and other measures. There is almost complete separation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between Israeli settlers and Palestinian communities,' Haroon said, explaining that the court said Israel was in breach of article 3 of the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (CERD), which condemns racial segregation and apartheid.
The court found multiple breaches of international law, including forcible evictions, widespread demolitions, settlement expansion, failure to curb settler violence, restrictions on water access, exploitation of resources, and the extension of Israeli law to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
A clear message to other states
There was also a lot in the court's opinion about other states' relations to Israel, Haroon said. 'The court said other states shouldn't render aid or assistance that entrenches the occupation. For example, they shouldn't do trade or economic activity with settlements.'
How did the UK respond? During the hearings, the Conservative government argued that the ICJ should not issue an advisory opinion at all. Now, under Labour, the position is even less clear.
'Last year, the Labour government simply said, 'We'll take this in and get back to you,' but they haven't issued any substantial response since. This has caused concern and anger among groups advocating for Palestinians. The only comment the UK government has made is that they don't disagree with the central findings of the advisory opinion. That's vague: it doesn't say what they're doing about it,' Haroon said.
He notes that Britain, for instance, does not ban the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements. 'Earlier this year, a group of 62 MPs and peers wrote to the trade secretary saying they should ban those imports, citing the ICJ judgment, but nothing's happened.'
Last month, Caabu (the Council for Arab-British Understanding) sent a letter signed by 112 parliamentarians demanding that the UK government publish a response to the ICJ ruling. A separate letter followed from 16 civil society organisations, 'The government said it's a complex ruling, but a year on, it feels like foot-dragging, and it makes people think it's political,' Haroon said.
Others have mobilised into action. In April, Ireland unveiled a bill to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories in the first move by an EU member to curtail trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements illegal under international law. Ireland based the legality of its move on the ICJ ruling.
Israel's response
For its part, Israel didn't participate in the case (though it's worth noting they did participate in the genocide case against them).
'Israel later called the opinion 'fundamentally wrong and one-sided,' saying it was trying to push a political settlement on them, but that settlements could only be reached by negotiations,' said Haroon. 'They also submitted a written argument, saying the questions put to the court were prejudiced and failed to recognise Israel's rights and duty to protect its citizens or its security concerns.'
The 'Montevideo Convention'
So how does the ICJ case relate to recognition of a Palestinian state?
'The court said that the violations, such as the occupation and the settlements, were preventing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. They said Israel abused its position as an occupying power,' Haroon said. 'I would say the recent French recognition of a Palestinian state is very much in keeping with what this judgment was saying, because it was about ending the occupation. The court said Israel should withdraw immediately. Anything that pushes towards a Palestinian state, including recognition, is consistent with the ruling.'
The UK announcement of recognising a Palestinian state has been met with furious pushback. Those against recognition now warn that it goes against International law. They note that under the Montevideo Convention, a state must have a permanent population, defined territory, government, and the capacity to engage with other states. The peers argue that Palestine may not meet these criteria. The UK government have dismissed this argument.
It is worth noting that some advocates for Palestinian rights also criticise recognition. Hussein Agha and Robert Malley argued in a forceful opinion piece that it amounts to little more than a symbolic gesture and will not halt the deaths and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza caused by Israel's siege and war.
Either way, what happens at the UN general assembly this September in relation to the two‑state solution will be written into the history books.
Sign up to First Edition
Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotion
A couple's dispute you couldn't make up: Is it acceptable to drink from a water bladder during sex? 'A water bladder is not for the bedroom'. A definite win for the prosecution? Phoebe
Major corporations are arguably the biggest winners in Gaza, concludes a report by UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese. It is 'hypocritical' for companies like Google to support Israel, says Katrina vanden Heuvel. Anandita Abraham, newsletters team
I find it both depressing and surprising that we don't have bottle returning schemes all over the place. I loved reading about this inspiring scheme from the Netherlands - and hope it can spread! Phoebe
Intrigued by this What we're reading piece on books enjoyed in July, because Welsh is on the mark about Seán Hewitt, who is a real force to be reckoned with. Definitely need to check out 'Hunted' by Abir Mukherjee. Anandita
Interesting piece from Larry Elliott on the one-sided EU-US trade deal and how it's a historic admission of weakness for Europe. Phoebe
Cricket | Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue took two India wickets apiece on day one of the fifth Test before Chris Woakes was forced off for England. The 36-year-old was scheduled to have a scan on Thursday evening, with his ability to take an active part in the remainder of the game to be assessed overnight.
Rugby | Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan will start for the British & Irish Lions in their third Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday. Ryan replaces Ollie Chessum, who has been named on the bench.
Athletics | After the sorrow of 2021, world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning talks about her determination to race at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. 'The gold is always the goal,' she says.
'The mathematics of starvation: How Israel caused a famine in Gaza,' is the lead story on the Guardian today. Also focusing on the conflict in Gaza, the i says: 'No negotiation with terrorists: Starmer defends ultimatum to Israel - but won't issue one to Hamas.'
'Record number of foreign sex offenders in British prison,' is the splash at the Daily Express, while the Times says: '1 in 8 of all prisoners were born overseas.
''Labour bid to silence migrant hotel critics', is the lead story over at the Telegraph, while the Mail runs with, 'Proof Starmer's smash the gangs campaign's a joke.'
'Drug crisis scared me to death and I'm going straight,' is the splash on the Daily Record. Meanwhile the FT highlights the latest in tech news with the headline: 'Microsoft market value touches $4tn as US tech stocks surge to fresh highs.'
Finally the Mirror with: 'Man, 76, arrested 'poisoned' at summer camp.'
Our critics' roundup of the best things to watch, read, play and listen to right now
TVThe Assassin | ★★★★★
A menopausal assassin has been a long time coming, even though there is literally no more perfect pairing in the world than a woman rapidly emptying of oestrogen and a gun. The Assassin is perfectly crafted preposterousness. It is stylish, witty, tightly written, even more tightly paced and takes the job of massively entertaining us at every turn with the proper amount of seriousness. Lucy Mangan
Film
My Beautiful Laundrette | ★★★★★
Now getting a 40th anniversary rerelease, this classic British comedy from screenwriter Hanif Kureishi and director Stephen Frears has for me the jaunty spirit of Ealing. It is a sharp, smart picture, with English eccentricity, sly quirk and political subversion, that represents a brilliant and almost unique engagement with contemporary history in 80s British cinema: a satire of Mrs Thatcher's Britain which involved playing Toryism at its own game. Peter Bradshaw
Art and designAndy Goldsworthy: Fifty Years | ★★★★★
Rural life hits you in the face like the stink of cow dung as soon as you step into the Royal Scottish Academy. This is the Clarkson's Farm of art retrospectives, plunging today's urbanites into the raw sadness and beauty, the violence and slow natural cycles of the British countryside. Goldsworthy may love nature but he doesn't sentimentalise it. It is our connection with nature he wants to reawaken, not in a quiet contemplative way but as a shock. Jonathan Jones
Music
Tyler, the Creator: Don't Tap the Glass | ★★★★☆Musical reference points are deployed with an evident love and understanding of the source material, never feeling like box-ticking or pastiche; the hooks work with enviable efficiency. It's all funky enough that you imagine even the selfie-obsessed pocketing their phone and throwing themselves around if it came booming from some big speakers. Alexis Petridis
Did lead poisoning help create a generation of serial killers?
The Pulitzer prize-winning author Caroline Fraser grew up in Seattle in the 1970s, a decade that has the highest crime rates in recent US history. At that time the US was entering a peak era of serial killers, and Fraser tells Michael Safi what it was like, especially for a woman, to grow up with violent men like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer operating locally.
A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad
In a rare moment of glory for AI, which is usually in the news for taking jobs or helping kids skip homework, the first AI-run NHS physio clinic has halved the waiting list for back pain and musculoskeletal services. This successful pilot was accessible to 2,500 patients in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough - where wait times were as long as 18 months. One patient described the AI physio as 'intuitive.' Although the root cause of long waiting lists, recruitment freezes stopping (human) physiotherapists from entering work, remains, and an app-based interface may be inaccessible - this seems like a welcome innovation for some who need imminent care.
Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday
And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
Quick crossword
Cryptic crossword
Wordiply