Fifteen Nations Issue Joint Appeal to Recognize Palestinian State Amid Growing International Pressure

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France and fourteen other nations have issued a joint declaration urging the international community to recognise a Palestinian state, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. The coordinated move, described as the “New York call,” follows a United Nations (UN) conference held this week and reflects a renewed push for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

The appeal came after a high-level gathering in New York co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving stalled discussions between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. In a statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Barrot wrote, “Together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognize the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us.”

The signatories of the declaration include a mix of European and Western-aligned nations: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain. Notably, several of these countries—including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—have not formally recognized Palestine but indicated a willingness to do so in the near future.

The timing of the announcement has drawn attention. France’s President Emmanuel Macron recently declared intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood this September. Similarly, the UK has signaled it may follow suit, pending developments in Gaza. These actions could mark the first instance of G7 nations formally extending recognition, signaling a potential shift in Western diplomatic alignment on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The statement emphasized the group’s “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution,” which envisions secure and recognized borders for both Israel and a future Palestinian state. The broader international conference, which also included representatives from the European Union (EU) and the Arab League, reiterated calls for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control over Gaza—steps seen as necessary to stabilize the region and support long-term peace efforts.

While the move has been met with praise from pro-Palestinian advocates, it has drawn sharp criticism from Israel and others who view premature recognition as counterproductive without reciprocal guarantees or structural reforms within Palestinian leadership.

This latest diplomatic push places added pressure on global leaders to clarify their stance on the matter, as momentum grows toward formal recognition in the months ahead.