Bad news for Netanyahu as 14 nations open new front against Israel, says will recognize Palestine if…; the countries are France, Spain, Canada and…
Israel Gaza war: In a major setback to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, as many as 14 countries have opened a united front against the Jewish nation, warning that they will proceed to recognize the Palestine as an independent state if Tel Aviv does not end its hostilities in the war-torn region, especially in the embattled Gaza Strip. Which countries are part of the anti-Israel front?
According to media reports, the foreign ministers of Andorra, Canada, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, in a joint statement, said the countries will submit the proposal in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, if Israel continues its military operation in Gaza.
French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot shared the joint statement on his social media handles, terming it as a 'momentous decision' to end the 'endless cycle of violence in Gaza. The French minister revealed that he has invited other countries to sign the proposal to recognize the State of Palestine as a sovereign country, hinting that more nations could join the front in coming days to add pressure on Israel What did the statement say?
The joint statement of foreign ministers shared by France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, and demanded an immediate ceasefire, and the unconditional release of all hostages by the Palestinian armed group.
The statement expressed grave concern 'over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasize the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance', and reiterated their 'unwavering commitment' to implementing the two-State solution to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict.
They urged all countries to establish normal relations with Israel, but noted that the war in Gaza must be stopped for that to happen.
The countries also expressed their determination to work on an architecture for the 'day after' in Gaza which includes the reconstruction of the war-ravaged Strip, disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from any future Palestinian governance.
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What first catches the eye about this proposal, which was signed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, is that it links a peace deal with the disarming and disbanding of Hamas. It also condemns the militant group's savage attack on southern Israel on October 23, 2023, which was the catalyst for the latest and arguably most grievous chapter of this eight-decade conflict. It's the first time the Arab League has taken either of these positions. The New York declaration, as it has been dubbed, envisages the complete withdrawal of Israeli security forces from Gaza and an end to the displacement of Palestinians. Government will be the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and a conference to be scheduled in Egypt will design a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, much of which has been destroyed in the 20-month assault by the Israel Defense Forces. 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And in the US, which remains Israel's staunchest ally, a Gallup poll recently found that public opinion is turning against Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. But how important are the declarations by France, the UK and Canada of intent to potentially recognise Palestinian statehood, asks Malak Benslama-Dabdoub. As expert in international law at Royal Holloway University of London, who has focused on the question of Palestinian statelessness, Benslama-Dabdoub thinks that the French and British pledges bear closer examination. The French declaration was made on July 24 on Twitter by the president, Emmanuel Macron. Macron envisages a 'demilitarised" state, something Benslama-Dabdoub sees as a serious problem, as it effectively denies the fundamental right of states to self-determination and would rob a future Palestinian state of the necessary right to self-defence. 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Rogers, who has researched and written on the Middle East for more than 30 years, also thinks that without the full backing of the US there is very little chance that a peace plan could succeed. Rogers finds it hard to believe that Washington will change tack on the Palestinian question, 'unless the US president somehow gets the idea that his own reputation is being damaged". There's always a chance of this. News from the Gaza Strip is relentlessly horrifying and the aforementioned polls suggest many voters are reassessing their views of the conflict. But Trump is heavily indebted for his re-election to the far-right Christian Zionist movement, who wield a great deal of power with the White House. The other thing that might influence the conflict is if enough of the IDF's top brass recognise the futility of waging what has always been an unwinnable conflict. This, writes Rogers, is whispered about in Israel's military circles and one eminent retired general, Itzhak Brik, has come out and said: 'Hamas has defeated us." These, writes Rogers, are currently the only routes to an end to the conflict. (The Conversation) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 11:45 IST News agency-feeds Will the latest diplomatic moves to end the war in Gaza work? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
