Democratic senators call for US to recognise a Palestinian state

A group of Democratic senators is leading a call to recognise a Palestinian state as “the only viable path” to avoid future generations suffering from “insecurity and affliction”.

Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced the nonbinding resolution on Thursday, calling on the US to formally recognise a “demilitarised Palestinian state”, making it the first time such a proposal has been made in the US Senate.

In a statement announcing the move, Merkley, who is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “Recognition of a Palestinian state is not only a practical step the United States can take to help build a future where Palestinians and Israelis can live in freedom, dignity, and security, but it is the right thing to do.”

“The only viable path for that is two states for two peoples,” he added. “The goal of a Palestinian state can’t be put off any longer if we want the next generation to avoid suffering from the same insecurity and affliction."

Merkely said the US had a responsibility to lead such an initiative, and the time to do it was now. Palestinians in Gaza have been besieged by war since October 2023, after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. Over 65,000 people have been killed in the besieged enclave. 

In reference to the genocide taking place in Gaza, formally recognised by the United Nations on Tuesday, the resolution calls for “an immediate ceasefire, return of all hostages, and influx of aid”. Human rights organisations and genocide scholars had already called the war on Gaza a genocide before the UN body labelled the Israeli atrocities. 

While the resolution is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate, it speaks to the growing support for a "two-state solution" as Israel’s increasingly brutal war on the Palestinians in Gaza shows no sign of abating.

The proposed resolution comes the week before several western allies - including Canada, France, the UK, and Australia - plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly 2025 in New York City.

Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have criticised countries that are moving forward with recognition.

Intent

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Peter Welch of Vermont, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Kaine said there was a historic precedent for the move, as the US supported a UN resolution in 1947 to establish two states.

US Senator Bernie Sanders calls Israel's war on Gaza a genocide

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Van Hollen - who, along with Merkley, visited Israel and the occupied West Bank at the end of August - said in a public statement, “Given that the Netanyahu government has obstructed that goal and the Trump Administration has abandoned it, the Congress must make its position clear.”

The resolution was also endorsed by the pro-Israel lobbying group J Street.

J Street’s president, Jeremy Ben-Ami, said, “Recognition sends a clear message that extremists on both sides - those seeking permanent occupation and annexation, or those seeking the destruction of Israel -cannot dictate the future”.

Progressive Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, a co-sponsor of the bill, said on Wednesday that Israel is guilty of committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Sanders' acknowledgement came after the UN released a report saying that Israel was committing a genocide.

In an opinion article on his website, Sanders, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist, wrote that he agreed with the UN and the assessments of other human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.

“The conclusion is inescapable: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza," Sanders said.

“Israeli leaders have made their intent clear,” he added, quoting statements from Israeli politicians and lawmakers.