Which countries have recognised a Palestinian state?

Likewise, Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, wrote on X: “The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established.

“It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law. Its sustained assault in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of civilians, displaced well over one million people, and caused a devastating and preventable famine in violation of international law. It is now the avowed policy of the current Israeli government that ‘there will be no Palestinian state’.”

And Portugal's foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, told Reuters: "The recognition of the state of Palestine is the realisation of a... constant, and fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy.

"Portugal advocates the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace."

He added that Hamas cannot be left with any control of Gaza.

However, several countries have also ruled out any imminent recognition of a Palestinian state, including Germany, Italy and the US.

Speaking at a pre-General Assembly press conference, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: "Palestinian statehood should come as a result of negotiations [between Israelis and Palestinians]."

And Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni added: “I am very much in favour of the State of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognising it prior to establishing it.”

The US, meanwhile, dismissed recognition as “performative” and said it would continue to focus on “serious diplomacy” in the region.

Efforts to achieve mass recognition of a Palestinian state began in 1988, with the Arab League signing up to the policy in November of that year.

Much of the African Union, as well as some Asian and Soviet bloc nations, followed in the same month, with a total of 81 states granting recognition by the end of the year.

Recognition announcement became more sporadic through the ‘90s and the early 2000s, before a renewed push in 2011 saw much of South America take the step.

The October 7 massacre and the war that ensued sparked another uplift in recognition, beginning with Barbados' announcement in April 2024. The county's Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds asked at the time: "How can we say we want a two-state solution if we do not recognise Palestine as a State?"

Recognition then began to spread across the Caribbean with Jamaica being the second country that month to announce it would follow suit, echoing Barbados' wishes for a two-state solution.

Europe joined the reawakened recognition list not long after, with Norway, Ireland and Spain jointly announcing their policies in May last year.

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “It is our deeply-held belief that there can be no peace in the Middle East until the Israeli and Palestinian people alike enjoy the same rights to self-determination, statehood, peace, security and dignity.

"Recognition of Palestine is not the end of a process; it is the beginning. It is our conviction that the two-State solution remains the only viable option to secure a just and lasting peace and a better future.

"I will also continue to work tirelessly on the immediate priority of securing a ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of hostages, and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.“

By the end of 2024, a further nine countries had recognised a Palestinian state, accounting for roughly one third of all recognitions since the start of the century.