The much-trumpeted—and, as many argue, much-delayed—stance of many European and other reasonably powerful states dismayed by Israel and its arch-ally, the United States, was that they would recognise the Palestinian state close to and during the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session. This recognition entailed formal diplomatic acknowledgement of Palestine as a sovereign state.
Prior to this, Palestine held a non-member observer status in the UN, which allowed participation in debates and meetings but denied voting rights in the General Assembly. For the first time, so many countries—especially Western democracies—have tendered recognition to Palestine. According to Al Jazeera, as of September 23, 157 out of 193 UN member states now recognise the state of Palestine.
Notable among the states that have accorded recent recognition to Palestine are the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, Portugal, and Belgium.
The question remains: does this recognition make any difference to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the gross human rights violations, and the indiscriminate destruction of physical infrastructure in Gaza City? While it may have been a diplomatic low for Benjamin Netanyahu to address a near-empty hall at the UN General Assembly—after a large number of delegates left to boycott his address—on the ground, Israel can only be deterred if pressured by the United States.
President Trump, however, appears still to be extending all-out support to the Netanyahu regime. In his most recent bid to substantiate his claim as a champion of peace and rightful claimant to the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump proposed a Gaza Plan promising ceasefire, security, governance, reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and a future political horizon.
In a threatening tone, Trump declared that Hamas has three to four days to respond to his ceasefire proposal, which was said to have been accepted by Israel. Under the proposal, Hamas would be required to disarm, and the US would work with Arab leaders and international partners to install a temporary international stabilisation force and establish a Board of Peace.
The plan requires that Hamas play no role in governing Gaza. Its members could be granted safe passage if they choose exile. Trump’s proposal envisions a transition government of Palestinian technocrats to deliver services in Gaza, restore self-governance, facilitate the return of displaced residents, and provide assurances that the people of Gaza will not be forcibly displaced.
Gaza has witnessed an immensely destructive two-year bombing campaign by Israel, with a staggering death toll of around 65,000 Palestinians. The coastal enclave has been left in ruins. The UN has declared the situation a genocide.
The Trump administration has inserted some vague clauses in the proposal, apparently to make it acceptable to extremely hostile adversaries. In the current context, the chances of this plan resulting in peace appear remote.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, in its report of September 16, concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. This finding is based on four of the five acts identified under the 1948 Genocide Convention:
a) Killing large numbers of a group
b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm
c) Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction, in whole or in part
d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births in the group
The commission also concluded there was evidence of genocidal intent, including statements by high-ranking officials, orders given, patterns of conduct, and circumstantial evidence.
Earlier, in a report released on November 14, 2024, the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices stated that Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide. Significantly, the UN body found both *actus reus* (the acts themselves) and *mens rea* (the intent) in Israel’s conduct, as well as statements and orders of officials, evidencing perpetration of genocide.
Western democracies fall on a broad spectrum regarding their position on Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Reactions range from full support, through cautious agreement with parts of the reports, to complete rejection.
For instance, the UK government has expressed serious concerns about human rights violations in Gaza and called for a ceasefire and aid access, yet it has not accepted the genocide finding. The UK—like other states such as Germany, Canada, Australia, and Portugal—argues that, as far as genocide is concerned, the evidence or intent is not clearly established.
Some European Union member states (Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain) have been very critical of Israel’s actions and vocal about international legal accountability but have been reluctant to use the term “genocide” due to diplomatic, legal, or political concerns or the risk of undermining negotiations and inflaming tensions.
On the surface, these states appear to be trying to balance international law, political pressures, and their traditional alignment with Israel. However, the threshold of the term “genocide” and its acceptance by the public as a crime committed by Israel is shifting due to increasing voices—including academics, activists, and politicians—challenging traditional Western narratives.
Resultantly, the ongoing situation in Gaza is, in fact, being described as a genocide, and Israel’s acts as genocidal.
Recent recognitions of Palestine by the UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and others suggest an increasing willingness to assert Palestinian rights and shift policy postures. This shift has come about largely due to mounting public protests and civil society pressure in Western democracies, influencing discourse and pushing governments to be more critical of Israel’s actions.
The people in Western democracies—including the US—have proved to be more vocal about human rights concerns than those in Middle Eastern countries. The tide is finally turning.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348315-recognising-a-genocide