Sept. 21 and 22, during the U.N. General Assembly, ten countries; France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Belgium, Andorra, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal, formally recognized the State of Palestine. Amidst the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, 157 out of the 193 members of the UN now recognize the State of Palestine.
The recognitions took place during the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and was led by French President Emmanuel Macron. This follows an increasing quantity and intensity in pro-Palestinian protests taking place all over the world and an official declaration of Genocide occurring, according to the UN.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory found that Israel is responsible for the “commission of genocide in Gaza,” according to Navi Pillay, the Chair of the Commission. “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set for the in the Genocide Convention.”
The UN defines genocide through very deliberate criteria, usually focusing on intent. Defining genocide, according to the U.N., needs evidence of intent to mentally and physically destroy a group, including the killing of the group, bodily harm to the group, deliberately inflicting destructive conditions on the group and intent to prevent births in the group. Despite the restrictive conditions, the U.N. has found Israel responsible for genocide against Palestinians.
Even before the U.N. Commission’s verdict on the genocide in Palestine, public outcry has been unwavering. The most recent notable protests took place in Italy, with about 2 million people participating. The public opinion has continued to shift in support towards the people of Palestine, and these recognitions serve as a sign that public outcry may be working.
Unfortunately for supporters, these recognitions of Palestine have little material worth. Palestine has not had autonomy over itself for decades, with the West Bank being occupied by Israel, and Gaza being under blockade since the early 2000s. The recognitions of a Palestinian state by about 80% of the UN is largely symbolic, but it does serve to motivate protestors to continue speaking out.
The Trump Administration has opposed these actions by the international community, reflecting the sentiment of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called these recognitions a “reward for terrorism.”
Despite the pushback, the public seems to remain celebratory of the recognitions and further emboldened to protest the genocide in Gaza. People continue to urge their representatives and leaders to do more, and potentially bring an end to the conflict and the genocide of the Palestinian people.
