News- Middle East: The government of Luxembourg has announced its plan to recognize a Palestinian state, thereby aligning with various European nations that are expected to make a similar declaration at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel informed a parliamentary commission on Monday that the ultimate decision will be disclosed in collaboration with France, Belgium, and other nations.

Local reports indicated that the announcement is scheduled to coincide with the UN session in New York, during which numerous European leaders are anticipated to officially recognize the Palestinian state.

The announcement follows several months of hesitation by Luxembourg’s government and in response to increasing demands from European leaders for a cessation of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, where at least 64,905 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed since October 7, 2023.

France has already confirmed its intention. “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in [West Asia], I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” President Emmanuel Macron said.

He added that the announcement will be made at the UN, stressing that “the urgency today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide aid to the civilian population. Peace is possible.”

Belgium and the United Kingdom have also indicated they will recognize Palestinian statehood by the end of September.

In the past few weeks, leaders of the European Union have adopted a more critical stance.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated during a speech to the European Parliament that the bloc plans to propose sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and to partially suspend the EU’s association agreement with Israel, which oversees trade relations.

“What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,” she said.

Diplomats said that Israel’s recent decision to approve the controversial E1 settlement expansion plan that would split the occupied West Bank into two parts had further damaged hopes for a two-state solution.

“At a time when Israel is already unpopular worldwide due to the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis, Israel chose to build in a highly contentious area,” one diplomat said. “You’re destroying the vision of a two-state solution — a solution that enjoys broad consensus across Europe.”

France and Saudi Arabia will co-host a meeting on Palestinian recognition during the UNGA on September 22 in New York.

As of April this year, some 147 countries, representing 75 percent of UN members, had already recognized Palestinian statehood.

Source: Press TV