[uncircle]

Serious question: how is declaring “oh wait, Palestine actually exists!” help the plight of the Palestinian people? I really doubt Bibi and his cronies will lose any sleep over a timid declaration in a climate that is increasingly critical of Israel’s actions.

In UK’s case, it seems to me more of the classic Starmer flailing about to recapture the votes of whatever group fared worst in his opinion polls. After appeasing Reform and the Tory voters, he probably feels it’s time to throw a bone to the Corbynites now.

[toast0]

Recognizing Palestine as a state is an act of diplomacy that certainly has no specific benefit for the people of Palestine.

But it makes incursions into Palestine by Israel explicitly of an international nature. Palestine is and has been considered occupied territory, but without recognizing Palestine as a state, what soverign country's territory is occupied?

Perhaps now that there is a recognized country whose territory is being occupied, the recognizing countries may oppose the occupation in more specific ways. Perhaps, the same sorts of protestations without specific action as in years past.

Real (positive) change for Palestinians would start with Israel withdrawing from the occupied territories[1], and that needs more than a declaration of statehood, but a declaration of statehood may be a tiny step towards that goal.

[1] It's not strictly required, but I suspect it's more likely for Israel to withdraw than it is for Israel to radically change how they interact with the occupied territories.

[da-x]

It is very unlikely that Israel will ever withdraw its 500,000 citizens from Judea and Samaria, given the result from the 8,000 citizen withdrawall from Gaza.

An equal territorial exchange is much more realistic, as part of a two-state comprehensive package. However, "63% of Palestinians, 65% of Israeli Jews, and 13% of Israeli Arabs are opposed to this two-state comprehensive package.', see https://pcpsr.org/en/node/989 .

[ameminator]

I don't disagree with you, but I think it's hard to convince the Israel government, since the last time Israel withdrew from Gaza (in 2005), a terrorist organization was elected and it resulted in multiple wars and waves of violence, leading up to the current conflict.

[spookie]

This is basically it. It provides the backbone for international rule based order to apply pressure.

[Gud]

It’s better than the alternative, which is to NOT recognise Palestine.

[XajniN]

For whom and how it’s better?

[aa-jv]

It is far more plausible for any state to accept refugees from a recognized state rather than an unrecognized one.

That this fact is ignored in the debate is deplorable, but fortunately there are those working in states across the world that understand that, in order for there to be reliable, official assistance granted to the people of Palestine, having their state recognized first of all, makes it far more likely to happen.

It means that the Palestinian passport can be recognized, officially, on refugee lines. It means that aid can be declared a state-to-state expenditure.

There are so many benefits to recognizing Palestinian statehood that one really must question the motives of those who do not understand why it is essential that it happen.

[beefnugs]

If anyone really cared, there should have been drones from every country flying recon over the place for years now confirming or denying evidence of atrocity

[Aeolun]

We don’t need drones for that. There’s plenty of Jordanian airdrops that confirm the destruction just fine:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/wasteland-rubb...

[billy99k]

If anyone really cared, they would have pushed out Hamas years ago.