Egypt lauds ‘historic’ global recognition of Palestine, urges states to ‘stand on right side of history’

CAIRO – 31 July 2025: Egypt has lauded Canada and Malta for announcing plans to recognize the State of Palestine in September, describing the increasing global recognition of the Palestinian statehood as a “historic step.”

In a statement on Thursday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited all countries that have yet to recognize the State of Palestine “to expedite this important step, aligning themselves on the right side of history.”

The ministry highlighted the importance of such step in advancing the two-state solution and ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Cairo commended the announcement made by the Canadian and Maltese prime ministers regarding their plans to recognize Palestine.

“Egypt emphasizes that this accelerating international movement toward recognition of Palestine represents a historic step that contributes to the realization of a Palestinian state—an aspiration long advocated by Egypt and Arab nations to restore the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”

Growing European Recognition of Palestine

Over the past week, France and Malta have announced their solid determination to recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York amid the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation.

Malta announced its decision on Tuesday and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela said “our country's position testifies to our commitment to finding a solution in favour of lasting peace in the Middle East.”

French President Emmanuel Macron led the initiative, announcing France's unconditional plan to recognize Palestine during the upcoming assembly of the world leaders in a statement on his Facebook account last Thursday.

Macron underlined the necessity to “build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region.”

“There is no alternative,” he stressed.

The renewed European support to a Palestinian state reflects an increasing global pressure on Israel to end decades of Israeli occupation and allow the revival of the two-state solution that ensures that Palestinians and Israelis co-exist peacefully in two adjacent states.

Their moves also come while Israel has continued the war in Gaza, killing more than 60,000 people and starving over 150 to death, the majority of whom are children, ignoring global calls including from the West for an urgent ceasefire.

Qualified Palestine Recognition

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer also announced that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes measures toward sustainable peace, the AP reported.

The UK will take such step “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to 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,” Starmer said.

“This includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank,” he said.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's office also said on Thursday it “is considering recognition of the Palestinian state, as part of a procedure that could be concluded during the high-level week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to be held in New York in September.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has set conditions for Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state this year, including that the Palestinian Authority holds general elections in 2026 without the involvement of Hamas and that the Palestinian state is demilitarized.

Global Palestine Recognition

Several European countries, including Armenia, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway, have recognized the Palestinian state amid the Gaza war, ongoing since October 2023.

These European nations have emphasized the importance of this recognition to support a two-state solution, enabling Palestinians and Israelis to live peacefully in separate states and ensuring lasting stability across the Middle East.

When recognizing Palestine next September, France, the UK Malta, Canada and Portugal will join 147 countries that have taken this step over the past decades, including 11 European Union (EU) countries: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Poland.