Senate Democrats are pushing the U.S. government to acknowledge a non-armed Palestinian state alongside Israel as a secure nation.
A non-binding resolution was proposed on Thursday by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), marking him as the first Senator to do so. This comes amid increasing Israeli pressure during a nearly two-year military blockade against Palestinian groups labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. in the Gaza Strip.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state is not just a practical measure for the U.S. to foster a future where Palestinians and Israelis coexist peacefully, but it is also simply the right thing to do,” he stated.
The resolution, however, is unlikely to gain traction in the GOP-controlled Senate. It calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and increased humanitarian aid to the war-affected areas.
“The establishment of peace and a prosperous future fundamentally relies on the two-state solution,” Merkley emphasized. “We can’t keep postponing the goal of a Palestinian state if we want future generations to avoid the same distress and hardship.”
Countries like Canada, the UK, and France, some of the U.S.’s closest allies, have recently expressed intentions to recognize a Palestinian state.
President Trump voiced his opposition to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s support for Palestinian independence, stating, “We want to bring this to a close. Getting the hostages back is paramount. That’s what the Israelis are after.” He added, “We need to halt the fighting.”
“I disagree with the Prime Minister on that matter,” Trump remarked, referring to their differing views.
Merkley’s initiative was backed by fellow Democrats Chris Van Hollen (MD), Tim Kaine (VA), Peter Welch (VT), Tina Smith (MN), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
On Wednesday, Sanders became the first senator to accuse Israel of “genocide” in Gaza, highlighting the long-standing denial of the situation by the Jewish state.
This resolution comes just days ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York City, where other U.S. allies aim to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Together with Van Hollen, Merkley has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly conducting an “ethnic cleansing” campaign against Palestinians in Gaza earlier this month.
The conflict escalated when Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and took approximately 250 hostages during an attack on October 7. Since then, Israeli forces are reported to have killed over 65,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israel believes that Hamas still holds hostages under the age of 50, with around 20 believed to be alive.
