US Allies Diverge from Trump, Push for Palestinian State Recognition

In a significant diplomatic shift, key US allies, including France, the UK, and Canada, have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, breaking ranks with the Trump administration’s staunch support for Israel. The move, highlighted at a French-Saudi-led conference at the United Nations in New York, underscores a growing divide between the US and its traditional partners over the future of Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The conference, which the US boycotted, saw France and the UK commit to recognizing a Palestinian state later this year under specific conditions, with Canada following suit on Wednesday. The US State Department, through spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, dismissed the event as a “publicity stunt,” asserting that the US would focus on “real-world efforts” to secure peace and end hostilities. The absence of a clear US strategy for Gaza’s long-term governance has raised concerns among allies, who are pushing for a revival of the two-state solution.

In November 2023, then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the “Tokyo Principles” during a G7 meeting, advocating for no forced displacement of Palestinians, no Israeli reoccupation of Gaza, and Palestinian-led governance without Hamas. These principles, aimed at rallying support from Europe and Arab nations, have been largely abandoned by the Trump administration. Instead, President Trump briefly floated a controversial plan earlier this year to transform Gaza into a “Middle East riviera,” which critics argued implied forced Palestinian displacement and violated international law. The idea has since been quietly shelved. The Trump administration’s current approach appears closely aligned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejects Palestinian Authority involvement in Gaza’s governance and faces pressure from his far-right coalition to maintain military control and establish Jewish settlements. Israel, which now controls roughly two-thirds of Gaza, has also been accused of exacerbating a humanitarian crisis, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reporting widespread starvation and malnutrition. Israel blames Hamas and the UN, while claiming to facilitate aid. European nations, driven by domestic pressure and outrage over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, are advocating for urgent aid, Palestinian Authority involvement, and a renewed push for a two-state solution. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the “horrific scenes” of children killed while seeking aid as a moral tipping point. Saudi Arabia’s participation in the conference, condemning Hamas and calling for its disarmament, signals broader Arab support for these efforts.

Without US backing, however, the path to a coherent plan for Gaza remains uncertain. The Trump administration’s focus remains on immediate issues like hostage releases and ceasefires, leaving a strategic vacuum that European and Arab nations are now attempting to fill. The conference is set to reconvene in September, but with the US absent, its prospects for reshaping the conflict’s trajectory face significant challenges.