European powers' rising call for Palestine's statehood exposes transatlantic divide

People attend a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 28, 2025. The demonstration called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages, as the new round of the Israel-Palestine conflict reached its 600th day. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

The failure of ceasefire negotiations, limited U.S. diplomatic engagement, and the Israeli Knesset's recent symbolic vote to annex parts of the West Bank have reinforced perceptions in Paris and London that long-standing international mediation efforts have broken down.

LONDON, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Mounting civilian suffering and humanitarian crises in Gaza are pushing European powers toward formal recognition of the State of Palestine, exposing a widening rift between Europe and the United States over the future of the Middle East peace process.

France is taking the lead, with Britain and Germany increasing pressure on Israel to act.

On July 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country would officially recognize Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, making it the first G7 country to do so.

France's decision marks a shift from previous European positions on the issue. According to Le Monde, the tipping point was Israel's continued bombardment of Gaza and its deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, which has fueled famine and civilian suffering.

The failure of ceasefire negotiations, limited U.S. diplomatic engagement, and the Israeli Knesset's recent symbolic vote to annex parts of the West Bank have reinforced perceptions in Paris and London that long-standing international mediation efforts have broken down.

Trees bloom at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, March 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Adel Bakawan, a researcher at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, said France was seizing a "window of political opportunity" as U.S. influence in the region continues to decline. "France is offering an alternative vision," he said.

Analysts view the move as a calculated effort to inject momentum into a peace process long dominated by Israel, Hamas, and the United States, all of whom, they say, have shown little appetite for compromise.

In London, the British government stepped up pressure on Israel on Tuesday, as Downing Street issued a statement urging "immediate and meaningful" action to ease the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that unless Israel takes "substantive steps" to end the crisis in Gaza, including implementing a ceasefire, lifting the blockade, allowing the resumption of UN-led humanitarian aid, halting annexation plans in the West Bank, and recommitting to the two-state solution, Britain too will recognize Palestine in September.

People walk on the Westminster Bridge in London, Britain, on Dec. 8, 2024. Tens of thousands of homes were left without power, rail and air travel faced disruptions, and sports events were canceled across the UK on Saturday as storm Darragh struck. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Starmer emphasized that the move would not be a "reward" to Hamas, but as a "necessary step to salvage a peace framework that is rapidly collapsing."

"I'm particularly concerned that the idea of a two-state solution is receding and feels further away today than it has for many years," he said.

Britain's announcement follows mounting domestic pressure. More than 200 Members of Parliament from nine political parties had signed a letter to Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.

Lammy argued that Britain's historical role in the 1917 Balfour Declaration places a moral responsibility on the country to help preserve the prospect of peace.

In another sign of Europe's growing unease, German Foreign Minister Thomas Wadephul on Thursday urged Israel to address the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, warning the scale of suffering had reached "unfathomable dimensions."

Speaking ahead of a planned visit to Israel, he said the latest United Nations conference in New York showed that "Israel is increasingly finding itself in a minority position."

U.S. President Donald Trump steps off Marine One upon his arrival at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

Compared with U.S. President Donald Trump's statement over the Middle East after his four-day visit to Scotland over the weekend, the European powers' recent endorsement of Palestine's statehood has exposed a sharp transatlantic contrast over Palestine.

Trump dismissed Britain's intention to recognize a Palestinian state as "dangerous," warning it could "reward Hamas," complicate diplomacy, and undermine future peace efforts.

Nevertheless, in a first-of-the-kind statement, Trump acknowledged that there is "real starvation" in Gaza and said he had asked Israel to allow food into the territory.

While several European governments increasingly view recognition as a diplomatic lever, the United States remains firm in its long-standing position that Palestinian statehood must come only through direct negotiations with Israel. In April 2024, the Biden administration vetoed Palestine's bid for full UN membership in the Security Council.

Palestinians wait to receive free food from a food distribution center in Gaza City, on May 2, 2025. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Friday that the ongoing Israeli blockade is worsening the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, particularly affecting women and children. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

There are, however, experts who caution that recognition alone may not bring about meaningful change.

Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, honorary president of the Institute for Research and Studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East, said France had "boxed itself in" by making demands it has "no ability to enforce."

As the Financial Times noted on Thursday, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Netanyahu has systematically eroded the viability of a two-state solution. Yet for many in Europe, it remains the only path that offers justice for Palestinians and long-term security for Israel.