Global Leaders Move Toward Recognising Palestinian State as Israel Rejects Two-State Path

New York – Several world leaders are poised to formally recognise a Palestinian state on Monday at a high-profile summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, a development Israel has denounced as undermining prospects for peace in Gaza.

The meeting, convened on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, comes amid Israel’s most hardline government in history vowing there will be no Palestinian state, even as its war with Hamas intensifies. While the move is expected to bolster Palestinian morale, it is unlikely to shift realities on the ground.

The two-state framework, long considered the cornerstone of U.S.-backed peace efforts under the 1993 Oslo Accords, has all but collapsed after decades of setbacks and mutual mistrust.

Boycott and Recognition Moves
Israel and the United States will boycott the summit, which Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon dismissed as a “circus.” Meanwhile, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday. France and at least five other countries are expected to follow suit on Monday.

Most European nations have now extended recognition, though Germany and Italy remain reluctant. Berlin, historically a staunch ally of Israel due to its Holocaust legacy, has hardened its criticism of Israeli policies but insists recognition should follow a negotiated settlement. Rome has called unilateral recognition “counterproductive.”

Russia reiterated its view on Monday that a two-state solution is the only viable path forward. “This remains our approach, and we believe it is the only possible way to resolve this extremely complex conflict, which is now at perhaps its most acute and tragic stage,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Israel’s Potential Response
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out recognition and pledged to continue military operations in Gaza until Hamas is dismantled. He is expected to outline Israel’s official response after returning from meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Israeli officials have floated the possibility of annexing parts of the West Bank or imposing bilateral measures against France in retaliation. Analysts warn such a move could alienate key regional partners, including the United Arab Emirates, which normalised ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Abu Dhabi has warned that annexation would violate the spirit of the agreement.

Washington has also signalled possible consequences for any punitive steps against France, with President Emmanuel Macron playing a central role in convening the summit.

France Stresses Symbolism, Palestinians Express Doubt
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the move underscores Paris’s commitment to keeping the two-state solution alive. “The decision that the President of the Republic will present this afternoon to the United Nations General Assembly is a symbolic, immediate, political decision that demonstrates France’s commitment,” Barrot told TF1 television.

Yet on the ground in Gaza, many Palestinians expressed scepticism. “Even if countries such as Australia, Canada, and France acknowledge Palestine, I believe there will still be no serious pressure on Israel to grant the Palestinians their rights,” said Nabeel Jaber, a displaced resident fleeing Israeli strikes in Gaza City.

In Tel Aviv, some Israelis dismissed the recognitions, arguing Palestinians had rejected multiple past offers of statehood. “We’ve offered them peace about five times. They never chose peace. So why should we now?” said 25-year-old film student Tamara Raveh.

Deepening Divisions
Israel faces growing international condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza, where local health officials say more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. At the same time, settler violence in the West Bank has surged, adding urgency to calls for political recognition of Palestine.

As France, Saudi Arabia, and others press forward, the summit highlights the widening rift between Israel and much of the international community—and the fading viability of a two-state solution once seen as the region’s only path to lasting peace.