Context: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session in September 2025, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows more humanitarian aid and commits itself towards long-term peace based on the two-state formula.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Balfour Declaration; Diplomatic Isolation of Israel; Gaza War.
Gaza War and Diplomatic Isolation of Israel
- The Gaza war began in October 2023, when Hamas launched coordinated armed incursions on Israel from the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, Israel declared war and launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” launching airstrikes against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
- As the 21-month-long war on Gaza rages on, over 58,000 people have been killed, including more than 17,000 children.
- Israel is facing one of its biggest diplomatic crises with more and more countries in the West (Israel’s traditional allies) adopting a favourable position towards Palestinian statehood.
- Recently, the President of France declared to recognise Palestinian statehood in September.
- Canada and Portugal have also expressed their intention to do the same.
- The United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session.
Changing Diplomatic Positions of the Western Nations:
Of the 193 UN member states, 147 have already recognised the state of Palestine. Until now, powerful Western countries had resisted such recognition, insisting it should be part of a final diplomatic settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the position is beginning to shift.
- Among the five members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China have already recognised Palestine. If France and the U.K. follow through with their recent statements, the U.S., Israel’s closest ally and patron, will be isolated at the UNSC.
- France, the U.K. and Canada are also members of the G7 group of advanced economies, and their recognition could influence other countries to follow suit.
- Britain’s move, in particular, carries historic weight, given its central role in the Israel-Palestine question. In the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Britain became the first major power to endorse the Zionist demand for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
About Balfour Declaration:
- The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
- The declaration was issued by Sir Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a Zionist and leader of the British Jewish community.
- By the time the Balfour Declaration was issued, there were roughly 60,000 Jews in Palestine, accounting for over 9% of the total population. Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of the First World War, in the late 19th century.
108 years after the Balfour Declaration was issued, Britain' s announcement to recognise the state of Palestine, clearly reflects a change in the UK’s policy towards Israel and Palestine.
India’s Stand in Israel-Palestine issue
- India announced its recognition of Israel in 1950 and has recognised Palestine in 1988.
- Two-State solution: India consistently supports a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within a secure and recognised border, side by side at peace with Israel.
- Focus on Practical solutions: Recently, at a United Nations conference (July 2025), India joined the call for Israel to end the war in Gaza and ensure access to food, for Hamas to return hostages, and for U.N. members to recognise the Statehood of Palestine. India advocated the need for practical solutions, not paper solutions, to bring about a Two-State solution through purposeful dialogue and diplomacy.
As Israel is facing accusations of committing genocide against Palestinians, and images of Gaza’s devastation and starving children are coming out, it becomes untenable for many Western nations to continue to back Israel unconditionally.
Also Read: Is Israel committing Genocide in Gaza?