Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered this move as a continuation of international momentum in the right direction to realise an independent and territorially contiguous Palestinian state based on 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The foreign ministry affirmed Egypt's full support for the path toward expanding recognition of the Palestinian state based on the two-state solution as a pivotal step toward establishing a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
It stressed the importance of safeguarding the Palestinian people's legitimate right to self-determination and to establishing an independent Palestinian state in line with international legitimacy and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, the foreign ministry stated that Egypt has encouraged all states that have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to make announcements similar to those of the French and the British. It noted that recognising a Palestinian state would contribute to implementing the two-state solution and initiating a serious path toward restoring peace, security, and stability in the Middle East.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will formally recognize the Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to take various "substantive steps" in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi valued the UK premier's intention to recognize the Palestinian state, calling it "the right step" toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Starmer's announcement came less than a week after a similar one by French President Emmanuel Macron, who stated that his country would formally recognize the Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September.
To date, 147 of the 193 UN member states—roughly three-quarters—have recognized the Palestinian state, which was granted non-member observer status at the UN in 2012.
Since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, several countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, and other non-European nations, have officially recognized Palestinian statehood, with other countries signalling they may follow suit.
In May 2024, the UN General Assembly voted to expand Palestine's rights within the body, allowing greater participation in committee work, though without granting voting rights.
Israel, which has been committing a genocide in Gaza since October 2023, has massacred over 60,000 helpless Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are women, infants, and children, and left over 145,000 others wounded.
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