[🇧🇩] International Community Recognizing Palestine as an Independent Country. How can Bangladesh help?

[Saif]

Date of Event: Jul 26, 2025

Source : https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/world/france-intends-to-recognise-a-palestinian-state-in-september

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September
The plan draws angry rebukes from Israel and the United States

REUTERS
Published :
Jul 25, 2025 17:26
Updated :
Jul 25, 2025 17:26

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Macron, who unveiled the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France's intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition and work to convince other partners to follow suit.

"True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine," Macron said.

"I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September."

Home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities, France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state, potentially fuelling a movement so far dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel.

The news sparked anger in Israel and Washington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision by one of Israel's closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy."

In a post on X, he added, "A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.

"Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel."

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the move as "a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism," adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of a "Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence."

In response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "strongly rejects (Macron's) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly."

In a post on X, he said, "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th."

Earlier, Canada also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its "failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza" and reiterating support for a two-state solution.

Carney also accused Israel of violating international law over the blocking of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

"Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith," he added.​

 

[Saif]

France defends move to recognise Palestinian state

France defended its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood amid domestic and international criticism on Friday, including against the charge that the move plays into the hands of militant group Hamas.

en.prothomalo.com

France defends move to recognise Palestinian state

AFP Paris
Published: 25 Jul 2025, 20: 54

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on 22 January, 2020. AFP

France defended its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood amid domestic and international criticism on Friday, including against the charge that the move plays into the hands of militant group Hamas.

President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.

Macron's announcement drew condemnation from Israel, which said it "rewards terror", while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it "reckless" and said it "only serves Hamas propaganda".

Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, quipped that Macron did not say where a future Palestinian state would be located.

"I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called 'Franc-en-Stine'," he said on X.

Hamas itself -- which is designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union -- praised the French initiative, saying it was "a positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people".

'The side of peace'

But French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday argued that Macron's initiative went against what the militant group wanted.

"Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognising Palestine, France goes against that terrorist organisation," Barrot said on X.

With its decision, France was "backing the side of peace against the side of war", Barrot added.

Domestic reactions ranged from praise on the left, condemnation on the right and awkward silence in the ranks of the government itself.

The leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, said the announcement was "rushed" and afforded Hamas "unexpected institutional and international legitimacy".

Marine Le Pen, the RN's parliamentary leader, said the French move amounted to "recognising a Hamas state and therefore a terrorist state".

On the other side of the political spectrum, Jean-Luc Melenchon, boss of the far-left France Unbowed party, called Macron's announcement "a moral victory", although he deplored that it did not take effect immediately.

By September, Gaza could be a "graveyard", Melenchon said.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a right winger whose relationship with Macron is tense, declined on Friday to give his opinion, saying he was currently busy with an unrelated "serious topic" linked to the "security of French people on holiday".

'Counter-productive', 'pointless'

But the vice president of his Les Republicains party, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, blasted the decision as possibly "counter-productive" or, at best, "pointless".

The move risked "endangering Israeli civilians" as well as "Palestinian civilians who are victims of Hamas's barbarism", he said.

Bellamy said that Macron's move was a departure from the president's previously set conditions for recognition of Palestine, which included a Hamas de-militarisation, the movement's exclusion from any future government, the liberation of all Israeli hostages in Gaza and the recognition of Israel by several Arab states.

"None of them have been met," he said.

Among people reacting to the news in the streets of Paris was Julien Deoux, a developer, who said it had been "about time" that France recognised Palestinian statehood.

"When you've been talking about two-state solutions for decades but you don't recognise one of the two states, it's a bit difficult," he told AFP.

But Gil, a 79-year-old pensioner who gave only his first name, said he felt "betrayed" by his president.

"As a Frenchman, I'm ashamed to see that tomorrow Hamas could come to power in the territory," he said.

While France would be the most significant European country to recognise a Palestinian state, others have hinted they could do the same.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would hold a call on Friday with counterparts in Germany and France on efforts to stop the fighting, adding that a ceasefire would "put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state".

Germany, meanwhile, said on Friday it had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state "in the short term".

Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries.

Once France follows through on its announcement, a total of at least 142 countries will have recognised Palestinian statehood.​

 

[Saif]

Over 220 UK MPs urge Starmer to recognise Palestinian state

More than 220 British MPs, including dozens from the ruling Labour party, demanded Friday that the UK government formally recognise a Palestinian state, further increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

www.newagebd.net

Over 220 UK MPs urge Starmer to recognise Palestinian state
Agence France-Presse. London, United Kingdom 26 July, 2025, 04:34

A protester holds a placard reading the message with a play on words on the name of Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and reading ‘Shame on you Keir Starver’ during a demonstration outside Downing Street gates in central London on July 25, 2025, called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign group to protest against the ongoing food shortages in the Gaza Strip. | AFP Photo

More than 220 British MPs, including dozens from the ruling Labour party, demanded Friday that the UK government formally recognise a Palestinian state, further increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The call, in a letter signed by lawmakers from nine UK political parties, came less than 24 hours after French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September.

France would be the first G7 country -- and the most powerful European nation to date -- to make the move, already drawing condemnation from Israel and the United States.

Starmer has come under rising domestic and international pressure over recognising Palestinian statehood, as opposition intensifies to the ongoing war in Gaza amid fears of mass starvation there.

‘We urge you to officially recognise the state of Palestine at the Conference next week,’ the 221 UK lawmakers wrote in the joint letter, referring to a July 28-29 UN Conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York.

‘Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact,’ it said.

The signatories, from parties including the centre-right Conservatives and centrist Liberal Democrats, as well as regional parties in Scotland and Wales, cited Britain's ‘historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council’.

They also noted the country's role in helping to create the state of Israel through the 1917 Balfour Declaration.

Responsibility

‘Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people,’ they added.

In the face of growing pressure on the issue, the UK government has maintained its longstanding stance that it supports a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East.

But it has insisted that the conditions are currently not right for formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

In a statement Friday following a call about Gaza with his counterparts in France and Germany, Starmer said he was ‘working on a pathway to peace in the region’.

‘Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan,’ he added.

A number of factors could deter Starmer from making the move, including wanting to avoid angering US President Donald Trump.

The American leader, who lands later Friday in Scotland for a five-day visit, dismissed Macron's announcement before departing Washington, saying it ‘doesn't carry weight’.

The pressure around recognising Palestinian statehood has been building on Starmer's government, with nearly 60 Labour MPs reportedly urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to make the move in a private letter earlier in July.

Meanwhile Macron raised the issue during his UK state visit this month, publicly urging London to work with Paris on a formal recognition announcement.​

 

[Saif]

Italy's Meloni: Recognising Palestinian state before it is established may be 'counterproductive'

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that recognising the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive. "I am very much in favour of the State of Palestine but I am not in favour of recognising it prior to establishing it," Meloni told Italian daily La R

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Italy's Meloni: Recognising Palestinian state before it is established may be 'counterproductive'

REUTERS
Published :
Jul 26, 2025 15:25
Updated :
Jul 26, 2025 15:25

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacts as she speaks to the media at a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands on June 25, 2025 — Reuters

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that recognising the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive.

"I am very much in favour of the State of Palestine but I am not in favour of recognising it prior to establishing it," Meloni told Italian daily La Repubblica.

"If something that doesn't exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn't," Meloni added.

France's decision to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September drew condemnation from Israel and the United States, amid the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

On Friday, Italy's foreign minister said recognition of a Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with recognition of Israel by the new Palestinian entity.

A German government spokesperson said on Friday that Berlin was not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution.​

 

[Saif]

Germany not planning to recognise Palestinian state in short term

Germany is not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution, a German government spokesperson said on Friday. "Israel's security is of paramount importance to the German government," said the s

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Germany not planning to recognise Palestinian state in short term

REUTERS
Published :
Jul 25, 2025 17:08
Updated :
Jul 25, 2025 17:08

Germany is not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution, a German government spokesperson said on Friday.

"Israel's security is of paramount importance to the German government," said the spokesperson.

"The German government therefore has no plans to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term," he added.

Recognition of a Palestinian state would only come as one of the final steps in a two-state solution, said the spokesperson.

Palestinians have long sought to create an independent state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem through a mediated peace process.

Many accuse Israel of having destroyed Palestinian statehood prospects through increased settlement building in the West Bank and by levelling much of Gaza during the current war.

Israel rejects this.​

 

[Saif]

UK to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel acts

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various ‘substantive steps’, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

www.newagebd.net

UK to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel acts
Agence France-Presse. London, United Kingdom 30 July, 2025, 05:22

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes an address following an emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza at 10 Downing Street in London on July 29, 2025. | AFP Photo

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various ‘substantive steps’, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

The potentially landmark move, part of Starmer's plan for a ‘lasting peace’, came after the British leader recalled his cabinet from recess for urgent talks on the worsening situation in the besieged territory.

Starmer's move, paired with Paris also saying it will recognise a Palestinian state in September, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so.

In a televised Downing Street address immediately after the cabinet meeting, Starmer said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if Israel has not taken the steps demanded by the time the UN General Assembly is held in September.

It must ‘end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect’ of a two-state solution, he added.

‘I've always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,’ Starmer said.

‘With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.’

The UK leader also detailed several demands for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is holding Israeli hostages seized in its attacks on October 7, 2023.

‘They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza,’ he said.

Hand of history

Israel promptly said it ‘rejects’ the UK move, arguing it ‘constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza’.

Starmer spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the announcement, telling him ‘the situation in Gaza was intolerable,’ a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

‘He urged the prime minister to take immediate action to lift all restrictions on aid access,’ she added in a readout of the call.

Starmer also talked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who ‘welcomed’ the recognition announcement, the spokeswoman noted.

The UK move follows French President Emmanuel Macron announcing last week that Paris would recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly meeting on September 23.

Although more than 140 countries already recognise the State of Palestine, none of them carry the weight of Britain and France, who are nuclear-armed allies of Israel with permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

On Tuesday, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed London joining ‘the momentum created by France’ to ‘stop the endless cycle of violence’.

Macron's announcement drew a strong rebuke from both Israel and fellow G7 member the United States.

Starmer said Tuesday his government ‘will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met’ the demands.

But he insisted: ‘No one should have a veto over our decision.’

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, attending a UN conference in New York led by France and Saudi Arabia to promote the two-state solution, echoed the sentiment.

Lammy said it was ‘with the hand of history on our shoulders’ that London planned to recognise Palestinian statehood, given Britain's pivotal role in Israel's creation through the 1917 Balfour Declaration.

Suffering

Starmer has been under growing domestic and international pressure to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

Macron publicly pressed for joint recognition of Palestine during his UK state visit this month, while an increasing number of MPs in Starmer's ruling Labour party have been demanding action.

More than 220 British lawmakers from nine parties including Labour published a letter last Friday urging him to take the step.

It was included in Labour's election-winning manifesto last year, as part of ‘a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state’.

But the pressure has risen as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has dramatically worsened.

‘The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,’ Starmer said in his TV address, adding it ‘must end’.

His office said the UK had dropped its first aid, including ‘lifesaving supplies’, by air Tuesday into Gaza, with the help of Jordan.

The UK leader thanked its king, Abdullah II, in a call.

‘However, they agreed that this could not be a substitute for truck deliveries by land, which are the only way to deliver the level of food and other aid urgently needed,’ Starmer's spokeswoman said.​

 

[Saif]

Palestinian State: France, UK, allies push for global recognition

France and 14 other Western nations called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, France’s top diplomat said yesterday.

www.thedailystar.net

Palestinian State: France, UK, allies push for global recognition
Israeli strikes kill 16 Palestinians, including 13 aid seekers in Gaza

A Palestinian boy injured while seeking humanitarian aid at the Rafah corridor was carried into a field hospital in the Mawasi area of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Photo: AFP
​

• Israel allows only 109 aid trucks into Gaza: report​
• Gaza hospitals recorded 4 new deaths due to famine​
• Israel committing genocide in Gaza: rights organisations​

France and 14 other Western nations called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, France's top diplomat said yesterday.

The foreign ministers of 15 countries late Tuesday issued a joint statement following a conference in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians.

"In New York, together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognise the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X.

President Emmanuel Macron announced last week he would formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, provoking strong opposition from Israel and the United States.

France is hoping to build a momentum around the formal recognition of a Palestinian state, reports AFP.

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various "substantive steps", including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

The secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, has welcomed the announcement by Starmer.

In Gaza, Israeli attacks continued with at least 16 Palestinians, including 13 aid seekers, killed since dawn, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera.

Gaza hospitals have recorded four new deaths "due to famine and malnutrition", including one of a child according the enclave's health ministry.

The total number of people who starved to death during Israel's offensive in Gaza rose to 151, including 89 children, the ministry's statement said on Telegram.

Israel has allowed only 109 aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, but most of them were looted amid escalating security chaos, according to the Gaza media office, Anadolu Agency reports. Four of six airdrops also fell into hazardous zones, it said.

"Today, 109 aid trucks entered Gaza, with the majority looted and robbed due to the security chaos systematically and deliberately imposed by the Israeli occupation," the office said in a statement.

Human rights organisations and experts in Germany have confirmed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Wafa reports.

This came during a press conference in Berlin on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the role of the European Union and Germany in this regard.

The Secretary General of Amnesty International Germany said that the deliberate starvation of civilians constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adding: "There is sufficient evidence that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war."​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh renews call for full UN membership for Palestine -

Bangladesh has once again urged the United Nations to grant full recognition and membership to the State of Palestine, underscoring the urgent need to implement a two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Speaking at the high-level international conference titled “Peaceful Settlement of...

www.observerbd.com

Bangladesh renews call for full UN membership for Palestine
Published : Wednesday, 30 July, 2025 at 7:51 PM

Bangladesh has once again urged the United Nations to grant full recognition and membership to the State of Palestine, underscoring the urgent need to implement a two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking at the high-level international conference titled “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution”, held at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 29, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain emphasized the need for decisive and collective action.

“The implementation of the two-state solution must begin now,” said Hossain. “We must act with urgency and courage to uphold international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter. Let us reaffirm our collective commitment and take our position on the right side of history.”

He reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Hossain thanked France and Saudi Arabia—the co-chairs of the conference—for convening the event during a time when unity and urgency are critical to achieving peace and justice for Palestine. He also commended the dedication of the eight Working Group members involved in the initiative.

“Bangladesh comes to this conference with moral clarity and a solemn sense of responsibility,” he said.

Reaffirming its support for the people of Palestine, Bangladesh expressed readiness to participate in UN-led humanitarian efforts and contribute personnel to support the reconstruction of Gaza.

“We believe peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without justice for Palestine,” said Hossain. “And justice cannot be delivered without implementing the two-state solution; the only viable and internationally recognized path forward, grounded in international law, relevant UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

He voiced strong support for the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and called for turning consensus into time-bound, concrete actions.

Hossain also pointed to critical challenges that must be addressed urgently, including the establishment of a clear and contiguous Palestinian territory.

He noted the devastating toll of the conflict in Gaza, where over 58,000 Palestinians; many of them women and children, have been killed and countless others injured.

“Schools, hospitals, and aid camps are being bombed, with bodies lying under the rubble. We are undoubtedly witnessing one of the gravest genocides of our time,” Hossain stated. “Bangladesh condemns this genocidal killing in Gaza and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The use of starvation as a weapon by Israel is unacceptable.”

He further emphasized the need to mobilize fresh resources to address the humanitarian catastrophe and to implement an effective and sustainable reconstruction plan for Gaza.

Bangladesh also welcomed the Arab-Islamic reconstruction initiative, viewing it as a vital step toward restoring peace, stability, and dignity for the Palestinian people.​

 

[Saif]

Palestine Embassy in Bangladesh

Palestinian Embassy in Bangladesh

palestinemissionbd.com

Relationship Between Palestine and Bangladesh

The relationship between Bangladesh and Palestine, particularly Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), can be traced as far back fight for liberation in 1971. While at first, most states were hesitant to recognize the newly-established state- Bangladesh. But relations quickly warmed in 1973 when Bangladesh supported Palestinians’ fight against Israel during the October War, including sending a medical team and relief supplies for Palestinians. Relations between Bangladesh and Palestine are considered to be one of the most brotherly and cordial as Bangladesh always advocates for an independent Palestinian state and firmly against Israeli occupation. Bangladesh has always called for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and for the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Bangladesh has a complete ban on trade (indirect and direct) with Israel, as Bangladesh does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel.

Bangladesh is one of the 137 countries to recognize Palestine as a state since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence on November 15, 1988. The first high-level meeting between the two countries took place in 1974 at the second OIC summit between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Yassir Arafat. Since then there have been 13 high level visits of Yassir Arafat to Bangladesh in 1981 and 1987.

A relationship with the PLO was established around that time period, in which Bangladesh allowed the opening of a PLO office in the capital, Dhaka, and PLO officials were frequent guests at events hosted by the Bangladeshi political and diplomatic corps.

The affinity with Palestine became so strong and so entrenched within the Bangladeshi society that in 1980 a postal stamp was created depicting a Palestinian freedom fighter, the al-Aqsa mosque in the background shrouded by barbwire, and words that saluted Palestinian freedom fighters as “Valiant” in English and Arabic.

According to a September 1988 US Library of Congress report, the Bangladeshi government reported in 1987 that – 8,000 Bangladeshi youths had volunteered to fight for the Palestine Liberation Organization. The announcement that came after Yassir Arafat visited the country that year and received a warm welcome from media and political circles and people across the country.

Since the 1980s, under IMET (International Military Education and Training) there has been development of military ties between the PLO and Bangladesh with the former attending one year courses at the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong. Palestine is represented in Bangladesh by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Dhaka.​