A majority of UN member states—147 out of 193—have already recognized Palestine as a state, which currently holds observer status at the organization.
Last week, three more countries announced their intention to join them—all of them key U.S. allies.
Which Countries Recognize and Do Not Recognize the State of Palestine
France was the first to announce it would recognize the Palestinian state in September. Shortly afterward, the United Kingdom and Canada said they were ready to do the same. London set a condition: recognition will follow if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza by September. Ottawa, meanwhile, tied its decision to reforms within the Palestinian Authority itself.
Analysts say these announcements reflect growing frustration with Israel’s actions in Gaza. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the war, and around two million people are now living in extreme poverty and hunger.
Last year, several European countries—including Spain, Ireland, and Norway—formally recognized Palestine. Among NATO’s 32 member states, 14 have already recognized the Palestinian state. Of the G20 countries, 10 currently do. If the UK, Canada, and France follow through, the total would rise to 13.
The UN Security Council has five permanent members: the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States. Following the decisions by Paris and London, Washington will remain the only one among them that still does not recognize the Palestinian state.
In 2023, the United States blocked a Security Council vote on Palestine’s application for full UN membership. Twelve countries voted in favor, the sole opposing vote came from the U.S., while the United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained.