UN Recognition Surge; Croatia Declines Recognition

At the U.N. General Assembly roughly 157 of 193 member states — including the U.K., France, Canada, Australia, Portugal and Luxembourg — have recognized Palestine, reviving two‑state debate. Croatia declined to formalize recognition after a parliamentary vote (121 MPs present: 44 in favour, 73 against, 4 abstentions) despite pro‑Palestinian protests and a 56‑MP letter urging recognition and suspension of arms exports. Delegates advanced a U.N.‑backed “New York Declaration” calling for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid and measures related to Hamas, but Israel and the United States did not formally endorse the plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the recognitions as rewarding Hamas, vowed there will be “no Palestinian state,” and faces pressure from coalition partners to annex parts of the West Bank while the U.S. administration has privately cautioned Israel against unilateral annexation and circulated a 21‑point postwar plan reportedly tied to Tony Blair. The diplomatic surge comes amid grave human‑rights concerns — including reports of tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths — and critics note several countries backing recognition continue to supply arms to Israel. Nations such as Japan say recognition is “a question of time,” highlighting debate over whether recognition will help secure peace or further polarize positions as fighting and diplomacy intensify.