Countries that Recognised Palestine as a Sovereign State

A growing wave of international support for Palestinian statehood has seen over 145 countries pledge recognition, with several key Western nations announcing plans to formally acknowledge the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. This development marks a significant shift in global diplomacy amid escalating concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The push for recognition began in 1988 following the Palestine National Council’s declaration of the State of Palestine, with many non-Western countries endorsing it in the subsequent decades. In 2024, Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway, and Spain joined the list, with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. Most recently, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, and Malta have announced their intent to recognize Palestinian statehood, following the lead of Britain and France. The United Kingdom, however, has conditioned its recognition on Israel agreeing to a Gaza ceasefire and other criteria.
As of March 2025, 147 of the 193 UN member states, or over 76% of the UN, recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, which holds non-member observer status at the UN since 2012. The recent announcements by Western nations, including permanent UN Security Council members Britain and France, leave the United States increasingly isolated, as it remains the only permanent member yet to recognize Palestine. US President Donald Trump has criticized these moves, while Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected them, labeling them a “reward to Hamas” that undermines ceasefire efforts.
The growing momentum for recognition comes amid widespread condemnation of Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, which has exacerbated a starvation crisis in Gaza. UN agencies and humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered aid access to address the dire situation.
The planned recognitions by Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Malta, and Portugal at the UN General Assembly are seen as a diplomatic push to pressure Israel towards a two-state solution, with Palestine encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. While largely symbolic, experts note that these moves carry significant diplomatic and moral weight, potentially strengthening Palestine’s global standing and accountability mechanisms.