Having access to international news often comes with the privilege of being able to carry on with one’s life as the headlines play out as others’ reality. The tragedies currently occurring in Palestine are not new news.
These are terrible, violent acts occurring repeatedly, and many of us have become desensitized to the terrors that are some people’s everyday.
While the events taking place may be things that we have heard of before, the deathcount is always growing. The abundance of lives lost are lives that could have been saved.
All the while, so many of us have the privilege of continuing on with our lives – occasionally reading a headline or reposting an Instagram post.
On Sept. 21, 2025, Canada recognized Palestine as a state, under the condition that the Palestinian Authority (PA) commits to certain changes. Some of these changes included: the President of the PA makes changes to its governance, they hold general elections in 2026 without any participation from Hamas, and demilitarizing Palestine.
In short, Palestine was not acknowledged as a state by Canada until the former agreed to fulfill the agenda of the latter.
As of today, over 150 countries have recognized Palestine as a state, a handful of which are allies of Israel.
However, this recognition does not necessarily mean a plea for a free Palestine. For some countries, this simply means compromise, not for Palestinians to receive their land back and be compensated for being victims of a genocide, but rather for a two-state solution.
In regards to a two-state solution, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated “That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment, we have neither.”
Starmer ‘s quote suggests that the only way politicians see any possibility of an end to the Palestinian genocide, is if Israel coexists with it. The desire is for a safe and secure Israel, but only a viable Palestine.
To recognize Palestine as a state is to allow the people of Palestine self-determination, independence and democracy.
While this may seem like a major step, it might not be sufficient enough for the people of Palestine.
They continue to face atrocity after atrocity. Palestinians have lost their own lives or witnessed their loved ones lose theirs. Children’s education has stopped entirely. Even if Palestine is freed, this would not reverse all that has been destroyed.
It is important to note, that not even the West Bank is free.
Instead, construction by Israel in the occupied West Bank has only increased since the genocide in Gaza began. In addition to this, Israel has further committed to not permitting a Palestinian state, after the recognition of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly.
Recognition does not mean much, especially when thousands of people are being killed.
In fact, recognition from other countries is not a minimum requirement for a state to be a state.
If we are looking at recognition, many countries have only recognized the state of Palestine as Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The rest of Palestinian territory has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.
This “conflict” is not simply a disagreement over land. Rather, it is exploitation, and an allowance of this exploitation from other nations.
Israel’s development on occupied territory makes Palestinian statehood even more difficult.
Even if Palestine can be a state by textbook definition — and should be a state according to international law — sometimes it’s not about what should be true, but instead about what power makes true.
Israel is unlikely to surrender its settlements, as many settlers on Palestinian land believe they belong there and that this is “ordained” by Jewish scriptures.
They believe it is their responsibility to “reclaim” the West Bank, and potentially also claim parts of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt to form “Greater Israel.” This “conflict” is not over religion or superiority. It is about ownership, exploitation, and genocide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to Western nations recognizing Palestine as a state involved the warning that these decisions would reward “Hamas’ monstrous terrorism.”
Again, this “conflict” is not two sides firing back and forth at one another. It is an occupation and a genocide on ordinary people who are unable to protect themselves.
After being exploited for decades, Palestine showed resistance on October 7, 2023.
This resistance has since been responded with innocent citizens being stripped of their dignity, their health and well-being, and in many cases, their lives.
Due to Israel’s occupation, Palestine does not have internationally agreed upon boundaries, nor a capital, or an army. The Palestinian Authority is also not in full control of the land or people of the West Bank, as Israel’s military has occupied much of it.
The occupation of Palestine is far too complex for some recognition to make a practical difference. Their land has been occupied and they simply do not have the authority to take it back or make decisions about it.
A two-state solution would involve broadly reverting to pre-1967 borders. A Palestinian state would be created in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
While this would not mean surrendering all land to Palestine, it would mean the end of a genocide.
However, again, this is about power.
While more than 75 per cent of the UN’s members recognize Palestine, some continue to refuse to do so, including the United States.
Israel has the power, strength, and support to continue with its stubborn refusal to allow a two-state solution. But, they refuse to give Palestine peace, or a portion of what was originally theirs.