Introduction
France, the UK, and Canada recently announced that if Israel doesn’t stop the genocide and forced starvation in Gaza, they will officially recognize Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in September 2025. The reason behind their decision to recognize Palestine is not the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but their political and economic interests in pro-Palestinian countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
This is because Britain was the country that proposed the Balfour Declaration in 1917, supporting a separate homeland for Jews. After that, the state of Israel was established in the land of Palestine. France and Canada also supported Israel for decades.
These countries are among the most influential in the European Union and are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This move would provide long-term support for the Palestinian cause and struggle, but it would not affect the immediate end of the genocide in Gaza. If these countries recognize Palestine and establish diplomatic relations, the US would also become hesitant to support Israel.
Reasons Behind the Sudden Shift In Policy
The leaders of these countries associate their decision to recognize Palestine with the inhumane conditions in Gaza. The Israeli forces have been blocking UNRWA’s humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March. This blockade results in a food shortage and eventually causes famine.
Hospitals are being bombed, and now even doctors are unable to treat patients because of the lack of essential food and basic living conditions. The hospitals are missing vital machinery, medicines, and first aid supplies needed for emergencies. UNICEF’s latest report states that about 320,000 children in Gaza are at risk of malnutrition due to the absence of necessary nutrients in their diets. The aid sent through airdrops is also not reaching the people of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The populations of most European countries, especially the UK and France, oppose the genocide occurring in Gaza. People are pressuring their governments to stop providing military, political, and diplomatic support to Israel. YouGov recently surveyed on July 24 in Britain to gauge opinions on the UK recognizing Palestine as a state. The results showed that 45% of the population supported recognizing Palestine, while only 14% opposed it.
People in France and Canada are also protesting against the genocide in large numbers. The government has to accept public demand because they have to face the same public in the next elections.
Another major reason that pushed these countries to this decision is the large representation of Palestine in the United Nations. 147 out of the 193 member states of the United Nations have already recognized Palestine as an independent state, and most of them share economic and diplomatic relations with Palestine.
It pressures the United Kingdom, France, and Canada to recognize Palestine because they have trade relations and alliances with those Asian, African, and North American countries that are already supporting the Palestinian cause. This decision is important to strengthen their trade and diplomatic relations with these countries. Some European states like Spain, Norway, and Ireland also recognized Palestine last year.
The critical situation in the Middle East is causing many Palestinian and Israeli citizens to migrate to Europe. This is because countries near Palestine and Israel are already overwhelmed with immigrants, and now people are moving to Europe to seek asylum. This migration is leading to a refugee crisis in major European countries. European nations want the Palestine-Israel conflict resolved so that the refugee burden in Europe decreases.
Palestine and Israel’s Response to This Announcement
The Israeli foreign minister responded very harshly to this announcement and warned the UK, France, and Canada that their decision would make the ceasefire process more difficult and worsen the situation in Gaza. According to Israel, this move by the powerful countries would justify Hamas’s actions against Israel.
However, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations described it as a historic day in the Palestinian struggle, emphasizing its importance in pressuring Israel to end the genocide in Palestine. The United States should also recognize that supporting Israel may not serve its best interests, as it risks losing allies one by one and facing public opposition to government policies.
What Would Be Its Implications In Global Politics?
The recognition of Palestine by France, the UK, and Canada would not cause an immediate shift in international politics, but it would have a lasting impact on the world stage. Out of the five permanent UN Security Council members, four would endorse the Palestinian quest for independence, with only the United States remaining supportive of Israel. This shift would undermine Israel’s diplomatic and political standing. While Israel might not halt the genocide, its severity could decrease, as France, the UK, and Canada would no longer supply military aid to Israel.
As a key member of the European Union, France’s decisions influence the narratives of other European nations. When France recognizes Palestine, it is likely that other European countries will follow suit, given their economic and political ties with France, as most depend heavily on France economically. This could lead to more countries in the United Nations supporting Palestine. Currently, 147 states have already recognized Palestine, and more are expected to do so after these three countries. Such widespread support for Palestine would likely diminish Israel’s standing on the international stage.
Conclusion
The decision by the United Kingdom, Canada, and France to recognize Palestine would diplomatically benefit the Palestinian cause. Although such recognition would enhance international support, it is unlikely to cease the ongoing genocide through diplomatic means alone. It is therefore imperative that the global community exert pressure on Israel via economic sanctions, as this approach targets Israel at its core and could potentially halt the genocide.
The Palestinian population faces a severe crisis, and it is high time that nations claiming to uphold secular democracy and human rights raise a robust voice against the genocide. These nations should impose international and diplomatic boycotts against Israel to compel it to grant basic human rights to Palestinian citizens.
Despite the existence of international law, its enforcement remains hindered by Israel’s support from the United States. Israel has violated international law for decades, yet the United Nations remains inactive. As responsible human beings, we must take all feasible actions to prevent this genocide, as Israel is engaged in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. We cannot remain passive observers; it is our moral obligation to contribute towards ending this atrocity.
If you want to submit your articles and/or research papers, please visit the Submissions page.
To stay updated with the latest jobs, CSS news, internships, scholarships, and current affairs articles, join our Community Forum!
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
Ms Jaweria Naseem is currently pursuing her Bachelor's in International Relations from International Islamic University, Islamabad.
