Luxembourg has announced it will recognise the State of
Palestine at the upcoming United Nations summit in New York, joining several
other countries including France, Britain, Canada, and Belgium. Prime Minister
Luc Frieden cited the deteriorating situation on the ground and the resurgence
of the two-state solution as reasons for this decision, amid growing
international condemnation of Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Luxembourg Joins International Movement for Palestinian Recognition
As reported by Isabel Coles of Le Monde, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden declared that his government will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the UN summit scheduled for later this month in New York. This announcement places Luxembourg alongside a number of Western countries coordinating their recognition efforts, including France, which is spearheading the campaign under President Emmanuel Macron. Frieden remarked on the worsening conditions, stating,
"The situation on the ground has deteriorated considerably in recent months,"
signalling the
urgency behind Luxembourg's decision.
The Prime Minister further elaborated that
"a movement is now emerging in Europe and around the world to demonstrate that the two-state solution is still relevant,"
highlighting the diplomatic
momentum supporting Palestinian statehood despite considerable geopolitical
tension.
Context of the UN Summit and International Reactions
Luxembourg’s decision coincides with a UN General Assembly session where member states are expected to endorse a declaration advocating
"tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps"
toward a two-state
solution. As noted by Amy Teibel of the Times of Israel, this
global campaign arises amid international criticism of Israel’s nearly two-year
military offensive in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023,
attack involving massacres and hostage-taking.
According to Prime Minister Frieden, Luxembourg’s
recognition of Palestine aligns with a broader European shift, and he confirmed
that this move will be coordinated with France, Belgium, and other allies for a
unified diplomatic signal.
However, Israeli officials and their allies have responded
to this growing momentum with strong disapproval. As reported by Alia Salem
for Arab News, Israeli ministers condemned the recognition plans as
a "reward for terror," with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning
that such moves "embolden Hamas." The conflict has left a devastating
toll, with AFP figures recording 1,219 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, from
the Hamas attack, and Palestinian health ministry figures citing over 64,900
deaths due to Israeli retaliatory strikes.
European States Coordinating Recognition
Luxembourg is part of a broader European push that includes
the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Belgium, and France, which have
collectively announced intentions to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN
summit. Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister, jointly with Prime
Minister Frieden, expressed before the parliamentary commission that this
intention reflects Luxembourg's historic commitment to peace and justice in the
Middle East.
In a statement covered by Press TV, Bettel and
Frieden conveyed Luxembourg’s support firmly rooted in international law and
legitimacy principles, emphasising the recognition as a step toward peace and
an end to further hostilities.
Palestinian Authority Welcomes Luxembourg's Decision
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
warmly received Luxembourg’s announcement, according to a report by Y.S. from
WAFA news agency. The Ministry described Luxembourg’s stance as courageous and
consistent with international law, considering it a positive contribution
toward efforts for calm and peace based on the two-state principle.
The Ministry also urged other nations to follow Luxembourg
and its allies in recognising Palestine, underscoring the importance of
international solidarity to halt war and establish durable peace in the region.
The Larger Implications of Recognition
The significance of Luxembourg's announcement goes beyond
diplomatic symbolism. As explained by the Economic Times, this
recognition effort seeks to reaffirm the relevance of the two-state solution
amid current conflict dynamics, at a time when the situation in Gaza has
deteriorated to catastrophic levels. UN investigators have accused Israel of
genocide in Gaza, blaming high-level officials for incitement, a deeply
contentious allegation that feeds into broader international debates.
Luxembourg’s participation in formal recognition adds weight
to the diplomatic push for conflict resolution and highlights shifting international
perspectives, particularly within Europe, at a pivotal moment in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Casualties and Conflict Background
The conflict that frames this diplomatic move began with
Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which caused widespread
casualties and hostages. Israeli retaliatory operations have since resulted in
a high Palestinian death toll, predominantly civilians, drawing increasing
criticism from international bodies and many UN member states seeking peaceful
solutions.
This background informs Luxembourg's positioning and the
decisions of its European counterparts, who view recognition as a pathway to
realising the two-state framework and curbing ongoing violence.