Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Portugal has announced plans to recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, aligning itself with a growing list of Western nations signaling a historic shift in Middle East diplomacy.
In a statement issued Thursday, the office of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed that the government is currently in consultations with the president and parliament to move forward with official recognition of Palestinian statehood. The declaration places Portugal among a rising chorus of European and global voices pushing to reinvigorate the long-stalled two-state solution.
“The government is considering recognition of the State of Palestine as part of a process that may take place during the week of the UN General Assembly in September,” the statement read.
A Shift in European Diplomacy
Portugal’s announcement comes on the heels of similar moves by key players in Europe and beyond. Just a day earlier, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking after a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, urged the start of a political process leading to recognition, while reaffirming that Germany itself would only recognize Palestine at the end of a negotiated peace process. However, he warned Berlin may consider “unilateral steps” if current conditions persist.
“The negotiated two-state solution remains the only path that can offer both peoples a future of peace, security, and dignity,” Vadewohl said, echoing concerns that the ongoing war in Gaza and continued settlement expansion in the West Bank are undermining the foundations of any viable peace agreement.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared that France, alongside 14 other nations, is committed to recognizing Palestine. “From New York, together with 14 countries, France sends a collective message: we express our determination to recognize the State of Palestine and call on those who have not yet done so to join us,” Barrot wrote on X.
The joint declaration came at the conclusion of a high-level ministerial summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday in New York. The summit aimed to breathe new life into the two-state solution a diplomatic framework many now see as slipping out of reach amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the acceleration of Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.
A Growing International Coalition
Along with France, countries signaling their intent to recognize Palestine include major democracies and members of the G20 such as Canada and Australia, in addition to a wide range of smaller states committed to international law and peacebuilding. The full list of nations backing the recognition includes: Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain.
On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added his voice to the conversation, stating that Britain would recognize the State of Palestine, though he suggested the move could be conditional based on Israel’s actions.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also pledged that Paris will move forward with formal recognition of Palestinian statehood during the UN General Assembly in September, describing it as a necessary step to salvage the principle of two states for two peoples.
A Humanitarian and Diplomatic Crossroads
These announcements come as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with tens of thousands killed and wounded since Israel launched its military operation in October 2023. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have repeatedly failed, and international frustration has mounted over Israel’s continued defiance of international calls for de-escalation and accountability.
The new wave of support for Palestinian statehood reflects not only global outrage at the situation in Gaza but also a growing realization that traditional diplomatic frameworks have failed to produce tangible results. Recognition, many now argue, is no longer a symbolic gesture — it is a political imperative.
As the countdown to the September UN session begins, all eyes will be on how Israel, the United States, and other key players respond to this coordinated international shift. The emerging consensus marks a turning point: one that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years to come.
