A team of U.S. senators has presented the initial Senate resolution on Thursday, pushing for the acknowledgment of a Palestinian state. This move indicates a transformation in the prevailing attitude towards Israel in Washington, particularly as the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip approaches its two-year mark.
The resolution, led by Democrats, faces an uncertain outcome in the Senate, where Republicans, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, hold a 53-47 majority. Despite Trump’s opposition to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on recognizing a Palestinian state, no Republicans have aligned with the Democratic initiative. Jeff Merkley, spearheading the resolution from Oregon, emphasized, “America must take the lead, and the time for action is now.”
The resolution advocates for the acknowledgment of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Merkley believes this approach could instill hope on both sides and enhance the chances for lasting peace. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Ro Khanna of California is orchestrating a letter campaign to garner support for the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The evolving stance among legislators is increasingly directed at exerting pressure on Israel to end the conflict and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comment on these developments. Apart from Merkley, the Senate resolution has garnered support from Democrats such as Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Tammy Baldwin, and Mazie Hirono, along with independent Bernie Sanders, who aligns with Democrats.
Sanders recently made history by labeling the events in Gaza as a genocide, a sentiment echoed by a United Nations Commission of Inquiry which accused Israel of committing genocide in the region. The Israeli government dismissed these allegations as biased and unsubstantiated. As several U.S. allies gear up to acknowledge a Palestinian state, discussions are expected to unfold at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in New York.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 58% of Americans support the recognition of Palestine as a nation by all United Nations member states. According to Gaza health authorities, the death toll in Palestine from the conflict surpassed 65,000, with 1,200 casualties in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that triggered the war. Israeli records show that 251 individuals were taken as hostages during the same incident, with 48 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, of which roughly 20 are confirmed to be alive.