The UK\u2019s decision to formally recognise a Palestinian state comes more than 100 years after the Balfour Declaration<\/a> backed \u201cthe establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people\u201d and 77 years after the creation of Israel in the British Mandate of Palestine.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution,\u201d UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement Sunday.<\/p>\n The declarations by major Western powers \u2013 long considered close allies of Israel \u2013 underscore its growing international isolation amid a war on Gaza which has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians<\/a>.<\/p>\n Which countries now recognise Palestine?<\/p>\n Currently, the State of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign nation by 157 of the 193 UN member states, representing 81 percent of the international community. In addition, it is recognised by the Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, which holds UN non-member observer status.<\/p>\n These countries are listed in the table below:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n What does recognition mean?<\/p>\n Recognising Palestine strengthens its global standing, boosts its capacity to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their occupation, and increases pressure on Western powers to work towards a two-state solution. Specifically, it would allow Palestinians to:<\/p>\n Recognition will not:<\/p>\n While recognition has little immediate effect on Israeli policy in the occupied territory, it does reflect a surge of international backing for Palestinian statehood.<\/p>\n Martin Griffiths, director of Mediation Group International, told Al Jazeera the recognition of Palestine is only a first step.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the entry point, but it\u2019s not the end point,\u201d he said, urging countries such as the UK to uphold their obligations under the International Court of Justice by facilitating humanitarian aid, ending arms sales and easing blockades.<\/p>\n He added that governments must also support reforms to make the Palestinian Authority \u201cfit for purpose\u201d, noting efforts by France, Saudi Arabia, Norway and Spain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt brings hope \u2026 but it doesn\u2019t necessarily bring a future yet,\u201d Griffiths said.<\/p>\n Together with Mexico, these countries marked 11 new recognitions in 2025 and the 20th since Israel\u2019s war on Gaza began in October 2023, reflecting a growing wave of international recognition for Palestine.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s reaction<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, described the UN summit on Palestinian statehood as a \u201ccircus\u201d and said moves to recognise Palestine \u201creward terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that message in his reaction to Sunday\u2019s recognition of Palestine by the UK, saying it was a \u201cprize\u201d for Hamas.<\/p>\n He added that a Palestinian state \u201cwill not happen\u201d.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:<\/p>\n “I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize.https:\/\/t.co\/4YmFyzC68S<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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![\"INTERACTIVE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/INTERACTIVE-What-were-the-Oslo-accords-1694588453.png\")
(Al Jazeera)<\/p>\n![\"INTERACTIVE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/INTERACTIVE-US-blocks-Palestinian-full-UN-membership-1758611813.png\")
(Al Jazeera)