While criticism of Israel's actions was previously limited to diplomatic statements, it is now being translated into concrete measures. A real turning point was Germany's decision in August 2025 to suspend the export of weapons that could be used in operations in Gaza. The media in Islamic countries perceive the new initiatives of Western politicians differently. Even the most favorable assessments note the lack of real action - in addition to weighty, but still formal statements in favor of ending the war in the Middle East.
The UN already recognises Palestine as a state, but key Western countries have long refused to follow suit. However, the war in Gaza and Israel's growing international isolation are changing the balance of power. As The National's podcast, featuring former UN official Ardi, notes Imseis , a law professor at Queen's University, the UK, Canada, Spain and Ireland are considering formal recognition of Palestine. Even Germany, traditionally a supporter of Israel, has toned down its rhetoric. The main exception remains the US.
Formal recognition may seem symbolic, but it strengthens Palestine's position. Countries that recognize its statehood will be forced to reconsider their relations with Israel, including trade. It should not be forgotten that Palestinian sovereignty is a legal right, enshrined in UN resolutions.
However, the media in Islamic countries also voice skeptical assessments. For example, the Egyptian newspaper Al Akhbar calls the French president's statement on recognizing Palestine a "show".
As is well known, Emmanuel Macron announced that France would be the first G7 country to recognize the state of Palestine. There are already 147 such countries. Although recognition is important, according to the Montevideo Convention, it is secondary. At the same time, many countries that condemn Israel's actions continue to supply it with weapons. Another question arises: which state will be recognized - sovereign Palestine or the reality formed by decades of occupation?
The Egyptian publication sees the recognition as a performance that masks the West’s inaction. France and other countries of the “global North” are using this step to whitewash their colonial past, while their real motives are Islamophobia and ethnocentrism. They avoid real measures: an arms embargo, sanctions, or diplomatic pressure on Israel.
No less harsh was the criticism in the Iranian IRNA, where the recognition of Palestine by Europe was called a gesture without consequences. The main problem is the double standards of the West. The US is guaranteed to block full membership of Palestine in the UN, and European conditions (for example, the demand to disarm Hamas) only weaken the Palestinian resistance, without affecting Israeli aggression.
In another IRNA article, political scientist Stanislav Bachev, author of the book “Parameters of the Post-American Order,” criticized statements by France and Great Britain about their readiness to recognize Palestine. In his opinion, this step was overdue against the backdrop of two years of genocide against Palestinians by Israel.
Bachev also highlights the West's double standards, linking them to the growth of the Muslim population in Europe. However, the disunity of the Muslim world itself, especially in the Middle East, plays into the hands of Israel and its allies. As for the independence of European policy, the military and economic dominance of the United States, as well as plans to deploy nuclear weapons in the UK, make Europe dependent.
As Abdullah Al-Sayed Al-Hashemi notes in Al-Etihad, public opinion in the EU is increasingly sympathetic to the Palestinians, and the authorities’ inaction is undermining Europe’s reputation as a defender of international law. On the one hand, the recognition of Palestine and restrictions on arms supplies are already changing the balance. On the other, further steps by the EU will either force Israel to give in or further isolate Tel Aviv. In any case, the era when Israel could count on automatic support from the West is ending.
While stressing the importance of formal recognition, The National's interviewee points to the harsh reality that Israel continues to seize land, and the Palestinian leadership is weakened by the occupation. Some experts believe that the only fair solution in the future is a single democratic state with equal rights for all residents. But as long as Israel denies Palestinian self-determination, this scenario remains a utopia.
Professor Imseis asks: how many more Palestinians must die before the world moves from words to action? Recognizing Palestine is an important step, but it is not enough. To stop the genocide, tough measures are needed: sanctions against Israel, an arms embargo, and a severance of diplomatic relations. As long as Western countries are not prepared to do this, the situation will only get worse.
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