TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The prolonged conflict between Palestine and Israel has prompted solidarity from many countries urging official recognition of Palestinian sovereignty as an independent state. Especially on Sunday, May 25, 2025, the Gaza Government Media Office stated that Israel currently controls over 77 percent of the geographical area of the Gaza Strip.
"Field data and verified analyses indicate that Israeli occupation forces currently effectively control around 77 percent of the total area (of the Gaza Strip)," the statement was quoted as saying by Antara.
Prior to that, last Thursday, the Israel Hayom newspaper revealed that the Israeli military plans to take over approximately 70-75 percent of the Gaza Strip within nearly three months as part of an expansion of military operations in the area.
Despite pressure from the international community to halt the war, Israeli forces have continued to intensify attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. These attacks have claimed the lives of over 53,900 Palestinian citizens, the majority of whom are women and children.
So, which countries are set to recognize Palestinian independence?
Malta Announces Palestinian Independence Next Month
Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the Mediterranean island nation will recognize the State of Palestine next month. He said that the step is a moral responsibility and that Palestine will be recognized after an event conference on June 20.
According to the Malta Today daily, Abela made the announcement while attending a political event that discussed local and global issues, with a primary focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "We cannot turn a blind eye to this worsening humanitarian disaster every day," said Abela on Sunday, May 25, 2024.
Abela expressed shock at the tragic deaths of nine children from a Palestinian pediatrician, Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, which occurred on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The tragedy occurred when the Israeli military bombed their house in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The attack left Dr. Alaa's husband, also a doctor, severely injured, while only one of their children survived and is now experiencing profound grief. Abela stressed that Malta is opening its doors to Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar and her family to come and settle in the country.
United States Set to Declare Palestinian Independence
President Donald Trump is reportedly set to announce the United States' (US) recognition of the State of Palestine during the Gulf-US summit. It is planned to take place in mid-May during Trump's first visit to the Middle East during his second term. This visit is a follow-up to the summit held on May 21, 2017, during Trump's first term.
A diplomatic source from the Gulf, who declined to be named or reveal their position, told The Media Line as cited by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday, May 10, 2025, "President Donald Trump will issue a declaration regarding the State of Palestine and U.S. recognition of it, and that there will be the establishment of a Palestinian state without the presence of Hamas."
The source also added, "If the US recognition of the State of Palestine is announced, it will be the most important declaration that will change the balance of power in the Middle East, and more countries will join the Abraham Accords."
Prior to this, in 2024, Israel's atrocities caused a division among European countries. The Israeli attack on a refugee tent in Rafah was said to make the Zionist state even more unpopular. Several European leaders even stated their readiness to recognize Palestinian independence.
Initiated by Spain and Ireland, these two countries are suspected to strengthen the European Union's stance in preventing Israel's atrocities against Palestinian civilians. In addition, Slovenia and France are also known to support Palestinian independence, as they are currently experiencing genocide at the hands of Israel.
Sita Planasari, Rachel Farahdiba, and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
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