EDITORIAL — Recognition, but then what?

France and several other Western nations have formally declared their recognition of a Palestinian state during a recent United Nations summit in New York on a two-state solution to the issue involving Palestine.

Monaco, Malta and Luxembourg have declared their support, following the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal.

Belgium has also declared its recognition but said it can only take legal effect if Hamas is removed and the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 terror attacks are returned.

While it does send a strong message, we cannot help but think that no one is really happy with this development.

Israel certainly isn’t, because this would mean international opposition to its plan to completely take control over the Gaza strip after its war with Hamas concludes.

Hamas certainly isn’t, because that means the international family of nations will only recognize Palestine as a state without their leadership. And while Hamas may have had this goal of Palestine being recognized as a state all along, it will be realized without them.

Then there’s always the chance of them being prosecuted after Palestine becomes a state, something they are sure to oppose.

As for returning hostages, they aren’t likely to give up their best bargaining chips with Israel anytime soon, knowing that Israel can pull out all stops and pulverize them after all their sons and daughters are back.

The people in Gaza certainly won’t be happy either. While this is indeed good news on paper, Hamas isn’t exactly willing to give up its control over the Palestinian people --or so deeply entrenched it cannot be removed-- so that declaration of recognition means nothing if Hamas is still in control.

That means people will continue to die in Israeli attacks.

Something that began as a terrorist attack is now more complicated than ever. Complicated by the taking of hostages. Complicated by a terrorist organization acting as a de facto government for people without a country. Complicated by Israel’s overreach in its war against Hamas. Complicated by Israel’s plan for post-war Gaza. Complicated by other nations deciding to recognize a state being led by a terrorist organization.

This is no longer an easy problem to solve. And the longer it stays unsolved, the more isolated Israel becomes from the rest of the international community, the more time Hamas has to rebuild its forces or gain international support, the more unstable the region becomes, and the more people caught up in the war between them die.