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Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg and Malta officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state on Monday during a high-level United Nations conference focused on implementing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced his country's decision, stating that "Belgium is joining the group of countries that recognize the Palestinian State, sending a strong political and diplomatic signal to the world today."
Monaco's Prince Albert II also declared his nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood. "Today, we want to reaffirm our unwavering support for Israel's existence and at the same time recognize Palestine as a state under international law," Albert II said. He emphasized that Monaco has long advocated for Israel's right to live within secure and recognized borders while supporting the Palestinian people's right to have a sovereign and democratic state.
Luxembourg and Malta's prime ministers made their announcements during the same UN conference on the two-state solution.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the UN conference, describing the Palestinian cause as now belonging to the world. "The massacre in Gaza, which has cost the lives of more than 65,000 people, continues in all its severity," Erdogan said. "No one who puts their hand on their conscience can accept what is happening. Moreover, no one can remain silent in the face of such genocide."
Erdogan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of seeking to make the establishment of a Palestinian state impossible and force Palestinian people into exile. "Now a ceasefire must be declared. The declaration of a ceasefire, ensuring the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and Israel's withdrawal of its forces from Gaza are necessary," he stated.
President Erdogan concluded Türkiye's commitment to the Palestinian cause, stating: "As Türkiye, we will continue our struggle with determination until a Palestinian state with geographical integrity, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, comes into being." He sent greetings to Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, calling the recent recognition decisions by various countries "extremely important" and "historic."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed disappointment that the Palestinian delegation was denied visas by the United States to attend the conference. "Let's not kid ourselves. The Israel-Palestine conflict has remained unresolved for generations. Dialogue has been disrupted. Decisions have been ignored. International law has been violated," Guterres said.
He emphasized that the situation in Palestine has become unbearable and worsens with each passing hour. "Let's be clear; statehood for Palestinians is a right, not a reward. And rejecting statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere," Guterres stated, calling for an end to settlement expansion in the West Bank and increasing settler violence.
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