Palestine’s Statehood Gains Global Momentum: India’s Historic Role Stands Out

New York | August 2, 2025

A wave of diplomatic shifts is reshaping the world’s stance on Palestine. With humanitarian crises deepening in Gaza, some of the United States’ closest allies France, Britain, and Canada are now moving toward officially recognising Palestine as an independent state.This comes as international frustration grows over Israel’s military actions and stalled peace talks, and a UN conference on Palestinian statehood gathers major global support.

The Numbers Speak: Who Recognises Palestine?

• 147 of 193 United Nations members already recognise Palestine.
• The number is expected to increase soon as France, UK, and Canada finalize their plans for recognition.
• In NATO, 14 of 32 member countries currently recognise Palestine the number could soon rise to 17.
• Within the G20, 10 countries already support recognition; this could rise to 13.

India’s Long-Held Support for Palestine

• India’s support isn’t new — it’s one of the first countries to back Palestinian statehood:In 1988, India recognised the State of Palestine soon after its declaration.
• Even earlier, in 1974, India recognised the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the only legitimate voice of the Palestinian people.
• India is now set to attend a high-level UN conference on peaceful settlement and the two-state solution.

What’s Changing in 2025?

• France has committed to recognising Palestine by September.
• Britain says it will do the same, only if Israel agrees to a ceasefire with Hamas.
• Canada’s PM Mark Carney announced formal recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly, citing worsening conditions in Gaza.

A New Peace Roadmap: The New York Declaration

• The ongoing UN Conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, has brought together over 125 countries.
• It aims to draft a roadmap for peace through the New York Declaration, which includes:A phased approach to the two-state solution.
• A proposed UN-supervised stabilisation mission in Gaza.
• A joint call for Hamas to disarm and release hostages.

Hamas Responds, US Pushes Back

• Hamas welcomed global support for Palestinian rights but rejected the disarmament demand.
• The US and Israel oppose the recognition push, claiming it could undermine ceasefire talks and embolden Hamas.
• Donald Trump issued a warning to Canada, saying recognition could impact US-Canada trade.

The Humanitarian Cost

• Gaza’s health ministry reports over 58,000 Palestinians killed.
• Nearly 2 million people are struggling with food shortages and displacement.
• The crisis began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and Israel’s military response.

What’s Next?

Countries like Australia, Finland, Portugal, Malta, and New Zealand may also recognise Palestine before the UN General Assembly this September. If they do, global consensus around a two-state solution could finally gain real traction.