New York, September 12, 2025 — The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) continues to serve as a central stage for advancing dialogue on the Palestinian question, with recent sessions marking significant momentum toward Palestinian statehood and the long-discussed two-state solution.


UNGA 2025 Backs Palestine Statehood and Two-State Solution
UNGA 2025 Backs Palestine


Current Status of Palestine at the UN

Palestine remains a Permanent Observer State at the UN, enabling participation in General Assembly debates but without voting rights on resolutions. While full membership requires approval by the UN Security Council, repeated U.S. vetoes have prevented Palestine’s admission as a full member state.


Key Developments in 2024–2025


July 2025: The UN hosted a high-level international conference on Palestine co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, pushing for a time-bound roadmap toward a two-state solution.

September 2025: France announced it would formally recognize the State of Palestine during the UNGA session, with Malta and others following suit. Countries such as Canada and the UK signaled conditional recognition tied to progress in peace talks.

September 12, 2025: The UNGA passed a landmark resolution backed by 142 member states, endorsing “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution.


Israel’s Reaction

The Israeli government strongly condemned the resolution, arguing that unilateral recognition undermines direct negotiations. Israeli diplomats described the move as “politically motivated” and warned it would complicate future peace efforts.


International Dynamics


Supporters: Most of the Global South, the Arab League, and key EU members welcomed the resolution as a historic step forward.

Skeptics: The United States maintained its position against unilateral recognition, emphasizing the need for direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Human Rights Groups: Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International praised the resolution, framing it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Palestinian rights.


The Road Ahead

While the UNGA’s endorsement is politically significant, it does not guarantee immediate full membership or sovereignty for Palestine. The UN Security Council veto remains a major obstacle, highlighting the gap between symbolic recognition and practical statehood.

Nonetheless, the 2025 UNGA session demonstrates growing global impatience with the status quo and increasing international support for Palestinian aspirations of independence, recognition, and peace.


FAQs

Q1. What is Palestine’s current status at the UN?
Palestine is a Permanent Observer State, allowed to participate in debates but without voting rights in the General Assembly.

Q2. What happened at the September 2025 UNGA session?
The UNGA overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting the two-state solution, with 142 countries voting in favor.

Q3. Why can’t Palestine become a full UN member?
Full membership requires Security Council approval, but the U.S. has repeatedly vetoed Palestinian membership bids.

Q4. Which countries recently recognized or plan to recognize Palestine?
France, Malta, and several others announced recognition in 2025, while Canada and the UK are considering conditional recognition.

Q5. How did Israel react to the UN resolution?
Israel condemned the move, calling it harmful to peace negotiations.