This week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is quite different from other years. It is for the first time that the world has seen several Western countries, especially G7 members, France, the UK, etc, rallying to recognise Palestine as an independent state.
Moreover, amid the ongoing UNGA, following Israel’s threats to the Global Sumud Flotilla—a coalition of over four dozen boats heading towards the Gaza coast to deliver aid breaking the siege—Italy and Spain have announced sending their naval ships to protect the entourage from Zionist attacks.
This comes as a surprise move.
Although the Spanish government, under centre-left prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has recognised Palestine as an independent state, Giorgia Meloni’s Italy has refused to do so.
Meanwhile, the US president, Donald Trump, has announced that, irrespective of his meeting with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, he won’t allow Israel to annex any land in the West Bank.
Speaking about Israel’s actions, the biggest supporter of Mr Netanyahu said on Friday that “it’s enough”. This indicates the mounting pressure on the US from its allies.
All these developments took place at a time when Mr Netanyahu addressed a nearly empty hall at the UNGA. There, he announced more attacks on Gaza and the neighbourhood.
While Israel has strongly denounced the West’s recognition of Palestine, the latter’s sudden change of approach prompts questions.
Why is there this spree to recognise Palestine? Why did the West suddenly join it?
Two-state or no state?
France, the UK and others have been contemplating recognising Palestine as an independent state under the “two-state” solution framework. They chose the UNGA to announce their recognition of Palestine.
However, what they seek isn’t national salvation for the Palestinian people.
This July article shows that the West’s spree to recognise Palestine’s independence isn’t an impressive move.
The West seeks a quasi-state status for Palestine under the two-state framework.
The article shows how the West advocates for Palestine’s total disarmament for Israel’s security.
The recent spree to recognise Palestine under the Ramallah-based so-called Palestinian Authority also prompts questions over the latter’s credibility.
The ‘PA’ question
The UNGA resolution 47/82 states in the sixth point that it recognises the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
However, under Mahmoud Abbas’s leadership, the Fatah faction has repeatedly attempted to hijack the PLO by sidelining its rivals.
In April this year, Mr Abbas called a meeting of the PLO’s Central Council to proclaim his hand-picked candidate as his successor.
While the PLO constituents, from the nationalists to the left-wing forces, opposed his move and boycotted the meeting, Mr Abbas, nevertheless, went ahead with his agenda.
On July 19th, Mr Abbas’s office announced that the Palestinian Authority will hold elections before the end of 2025. Mr Abbas’s announcement coincides with those by France, the UK, etc, regarding Palestine’s recognition. This indicates that the Palestinian Authority’s election, which took place in 2005 and in 2006 for Gaza, will be held to elect Mr Abbas’s newly appointed heir-apparent, Hussein al-Sheikh.
However, due to its corruption and collaboration with Israeli occupation in unleashing violence against the Palestinian people, Mr Abbas’s regime has become a pariah in the West Bank.
While Gaza didn’t recognise Mr Abbas as its leader since the 2006 polls, the anti-incumbency is at its peak in the West Bank. Thus, without the support of the Israelis and the West, it won’t be possible for the Fatah faction to win the elections.
Moreover, the Opposition, ie, the Palestinian resistance organisations, have rebuked Mr Abbas’s efforts to hold elections when Gaza faces a genocide.
This indicates there will be no fair elections.
It also indicates that a pro-West and “moderate” Arafatite, Mr Sheikh, will be crowned as the head of the quasi-state, which will lack full sovereignty.
UNGA disappoints Palestine
The 2025 UNGA saw several Western countries advocating for a free Palestine. It saw several senior Western diplomats, including those from the UK, walking out when Mr Netanyahu delivered his speech.
Amid these unprecedented optics, the world also saw how, at the UNGA, the West continues to limit Palestine’s scope for freedom. They attempt to limit Palestine’s independence by making it conditional. They deny it the right to arm itself under the garb of Israel’s security, when it’s Israel that has been attacking one country after another in West Asia, including the US ally Qatar.
As the West, Israel and its opponents made the UNGA a platform to peddle their narratives on Palestine, especially Gaza, no concrete steps have been announced by any to stop Israel’s genocidal attacks.
The UNGA asks Israel to end the attacks on Palestine voluntarily.
Mr Netanyahu’s announcements indicate that Israel rejects such demands. It will continue its attacks while avoiding any ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
This means, even after two years, the people of Gaza find no respite from the violence.
When they continue to face uncertainties, it doesn’t matter to them whether the West has, at the UNGA, recognised Palestine as a free state.
This recognition brings no freedom from the genocide.
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