Why denying statehood to Palestine cannot herald peace in Middle-East

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*

Israel’s large-scale military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—widely condemned for their brutality and violation of Israeli sovereignty—has since resulted in significant destruction and displacement in Gaza, accompanied by expanded settlements and increased violence in the West Bank. The long-pursued two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict now appears more elusive than ever.

In the lead-up to a proposed United Nations conference on Palestinian statehood—an initiative led by France and scheduled for June—Israel launched missile strikes on Iran. This escalated into a 12-day military confrontation, which also had the effect of derailing momentum toward international dialogue on Palestinian recognition. While these strikes were presented as targeting Iranian nuclear capabilities, they also served to delay, if not derail, diplomatic attention to the Palestinian cause.

Despite global debates over statehood, the U.S. under the Trump administration showed little support for Palestinian aspirations. The administration sanctioned International Criminal Court (ICC) judges following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the investigation of alleged Israeli human rights violations. President Trump even suggested the evacuation of Gaza’s population without addressing the practicalities of relocation, aligning with his vision of a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the U.S.—the first country to recognize Israel—has consistently backed its territorial claims and military campaigns, often at the expense of addressing Palestinian sovereignty. Israeli leadership has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of Palestinian statehood in public statements. When momentum has built internationally around recognizing Palestine, the U.S. and some European allies have frequently provided diplomatic support to Israeli efforts to counter it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, since returning to power, has actively weakened the Oslo Accord framework of a two-state solution by promoting settlement expansion in the West Bank and undermining the Palestinian Authority. These measures have contributed to the erosion of moderate Palestinian political structures while emboldening radical factions. Israel, designated a “major non-NATO ally” of the U.S., benefits from preferential access to American military platforms and technologies. U.S. military aid reached unprecedented levels during Israel’s recent campaigns in Gaza, which according to UN reports, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and over 40,000 Palestinians. U.S. support has also been crucial in Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and engagements with Iranian-backed militias.

Peace in the Middle East Remains Elusive

The current ceasefire in Gaza reflects a tactical pause rather than a comprehensive solution. It has not curtailed Israeli resettlement activities in Gaza and the West Bank, nor has it resolved the broader conflict. Efforts to eliminate Hamas and other militant groups have not addressed the root causes of resistance stemming from occupation and disenfranchisement.

Israel’s push toward a de facto one-state solution—through territorial expansion—seeks to erase the basis for Palestinian claims to sovereignty. Violence by settlers, often supported or ignored by security forces, contributes to an atmosphere of intimidation and displacement. While the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative advocated a two-state resolution to bring stability and peace to the region, Israel has engaged in hostilities not only with Hamas in Gaza but also with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran, and its proxies in Syria and Iraq—further undermining that vision.

The peace processes Israel has engaged in with Arab countries have notably excluded Palestinian concerns, raising questions about their long-term viability. Recent developments, including Israel’s Gaza operations, have triggered widespread anger across the Gulf region. The U.S. has been deeply involved in supporting Israel’s military efforts, including direct engagements with groups like the Houthis in Yemen, who disrupted Red Sea trade routes in protest. The challenges faced by the U.S. in responding to these disruptions ultimately led to a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis—negotiated without Israeli involvement.

Even Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons has not deterred missile attacks from Iran and its allied militias. Conventional conflicts in the region are likely to continue unless the core issue of Palestinian statehood is addressed. Without confronting this reality, neither U.S. nor European visions of peace can materialize. Sustainable peace in the Middle East demands acknowledging Palestinian aspirations and engaging with them as part of any long-term solution.

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*Senior Lecturer, SVM Autonomous College, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha

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