The government of Luxembourg has announced plans to formally recognize Palestine as a state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session later this month.
According to reports, Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel informed a parliamentary commission of the decision. Bettel added that he will introduce a bill in parliament to pave the way for additional measures, including potential sanctions, local broadcaster RTL Letzebuerg reported.
Meanwhile, France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-host a high-level meeting on Palestinian recognition on September 22 in New York, coinciding with the UNGA.
Luxembourg’s decision follows similar moves earlier this year by Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, while France and Malta have also announced plans to extend recognition.
This growing wave of European support for Palestinian statehood coincides with increasing international pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Gaza. Only recently, a UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel’s actions there amount to genocide, a finding that has further intensified calls for accountability and recognition of Palestinian rights.