A group of US senators have introduced the first resolution in the Senate calling for official recognition of a Palestinian state, Reuters reports, quoted by News.bg.
The initiative, introduced by Democrats, has little chance of being adopted, as President Donald Trump's Republican Party controls a majority of 53 to 47 seats in the upper house. Trump himself said that he did not support the proposal and noted that not a single Republican voted for it.
Key figures and arguments
The resolution was introduced by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, who emphasized:
„America has a responsibility to lead and the time to act is now. Recognizing a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel would give hope to both sides and increase the prospects for peace.“
Among the co-sponsors are Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Tammy Baldwin, Mazie Hirono and independent Bernie Sanders, who voted with the Democrats. Sanders became the first senator to describe the events in Gaza as genocide, a term that coincides with the conclusions of a UN special commission. Israel rejected the report as biased and based on unconfirmed data.
Context and humanitarian situation
In the House of Representatives, Congressman Ro Khanna of California is also collecting signatures in support of Palestinian statehood. The initiative comes amid growing international pressure on Israel to end the war and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 65,000. Israel says the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
The resolution comes as several U.S. allies prepare to recognize Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly next week. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll in August, 58 percent of Americans believe that all U.N. states should recognize Palestine as an independent state.