Malta has announced it will formally recognise the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, joining a growing number of countries moving towards recognition amid escalating international pressure on Israel.Prime Minister Robert Abela revealed the decision in a Facebook post, saying it would be officially communicated by Permanent Secretary Christopher Cutajar during the UN’s High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution, currently underway in New York.“Our country’s position reflects our commitment to finding a lasting solution for peace in the Middle East,” Abela wrote.The announcement came just minutes after hundreds of people took to the streets of Valletta to protest what they described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza and to call on Malta to, among other things, recognise the State of Palestine.Malta first announced its intention to eventually recognise Palestine in March 2024. In May 2025, he hinted at doing it the following month however, the UN General Assembly was postponed to September.The decision also follows a wave of international momentum towards Palestinian recognition. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France would take similar steps, arguing that recognition was essential to revive a meaningful peace process. The United Kingdom also warned Israel that it was prepared to recognise Palestine if it did not take concrete measures towards a two-state solution.Malta’s move comes as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, now in its tenth month, amid mounting humanitarian concerns and growing frustration from Western capitals. The Biden administration has faced criticism for failing to pressure Israel into halting the conflict, while European leaders have begun signalling they are ready to act independently.At present, over 140 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognise Palestine, but only a handful of EU countries have done so. Spain, Ireland, and Norway all formally recognised the State of Palestine earlier this year, in what was widely seen as a coordinated European effort to increase pressure on Israel. France’s anticipated recognition in September is expected to further shift the balance within the EU, which has historically been split on the issue.By aligning itself with this bloc, Malta is placing itself firmly on the side of a two-state solution at a time when that vision is under significant strain. Israel’s current government has repeatedly rejected the concept, insisting on maintaining control over much of the occupied Palestinian territories.Abela’s government framed the decision as part of its long-standing support for peace in the region. But the move also underscores growing impatience among European leaders with Israel’s stance and the perceived failure of the international community to rein in the conflict.The United Nations General Assembly, which opens on 10 September in New York, is expected to become a key forum for renewed pressure on Israel and for further declarations of Palestinian recognition from European countries. Malta’s announcement ensures it will be among the countries making a strong statement on the world stage.Malta’s announcement may come later than many would have hoped, but it still marks a shift in the country’s official stance – and places it among a growing number of states pushing for renewed momentum behind a two-state solution. As the UN General Assembly approaches, the focus will now turn to whether these diplomatic moves can translate into tangible pressure on Israel to change course, and whether recognition alone is enough to revive a peace process that remains dangerously stalled.•