On September 19, 2025, the United States Senate witnessed a historic—if deeply divisive—moment: a group of Democratic senators introduced the first-ever resolution calling for the official recognition of a Palestinian state. The move, spearheaded by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and co-sponsored by fellow Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Tammy Baldwin, Mazie Hirono, and independent Bernie Sanders, comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches a fever pitch and international scrutiny of the conflict intensifies.
"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," Merkley stated, as reported by News.bg quoting Reuters. The resolution, though, faces an uphill battle. With President Donald Trump's Republican Party holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, the proposal stands little chance of passing. Trump himself dismissed the initiative outright, noting that not a single Republican senator supported it.
The Senate resolution is not the only sign of shifting tides in Washington. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Ro Khanna of California has begun collecting signatures in support of Palestinian statehood. The push for recognition comes at a time when the death toll in Gaza has soared above 65,000, according to figures cited by News.bg, and as Israel faces mounting calls to end its offensive and address the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave.
The situation on the ground remains harrowing. On September 19, Israeli tanks and jets intensified their bombardment of Gaza City as part of a major ground offensive. AFP journalists and witnesses described a steady exodus of Palestinians fleeing south—many on foot, others packed into vehicles or even donkey carts, their belongings piled high. "There is artillery fire, air strikes, quadcopter and drone gunfire. The bombing never stops," said Aya Ahmed, a 32-year-old sheltering with 13 relatives in Gaza City, as quoted by AFP. "The world doesn’t understand what is happening. They (Israel) want us to evacuate south—but where will we live? There are no tents, no transport, no money." The cost of a ride to southern Gaza has skyrocketed, with some families paying over $1,000, a sum out of reach for most.
The Israeli military announced the deaths of four soldiers on the same day, casualties of the ongoing offensive. This was not the only attack to claim Israeli lives. In Gaza's southern Rafah area, a roadside bomb killed four IDF soldiers and wounded three during operations involving an armored bulldozer in the Jenina neighborhood. Israeli media reported that the attack occurred when one of two armored vehicles accompanying the bulldozer moved to the side of the road and was struck by an explosive device. Investigations are ongoing to determine the specifics of the bomb, including its type and activation method.
Meanwhile, violence spilled over into the West Bank. At an Israeli-run border crossing between Jordan and the occupied territory, a gunman opened fire and then stabbed two Israeli soldiers to death. The attacker, identified by Jordan’s Foreign Ministry as Abdel-Mutalib al-Qaisi—a man in his late 50s who had reportedly been driving aid trucks bound for Gaza for months—was "neutralized" by Israeli forces. Troops were deployed to the area to search for further threats. Adding to the tension, a drone strike occurred near the southern Israeli city of Eilat, though it remains unclear whether the UAV originated from Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, who have previously targeted Israel with drones and missiles.
All of this unfolds as the international community gears up for a pivotal week. More than 140 world leaders are set to descend on New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly summit, which will be dominated by the future of the Palestinians and Gaza. The humanitarian catastrophe in the territory is expected to top the agenda, two years after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that triggered the current Israeli offensive. Notably absent from the gathering will be Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who was denied a visa by Washington. Instead, Abbas will address the assembly by video link, represented in person by the Palestinian ambassador.
The General Assembly voted on September 19 to allow Abbas to address the event remotely, a move that underscores the fraught diplomatic climate. Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair meetings starting Monday focused on the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution. These meetings are expected to be historic: ten countries—including Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, Britain, San Marino, and France—are set to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. This follows the General Assembly’s overwhelming adoption last week of a text supporting a future Palestinian state, though notably without Hamas in the equation.
International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan described the recognition as a "symbolic" gesture, but one that could become significant if those countries take further steps to pressure Israel to end its campaign in Gaza. However, there are warnings of possible Israeli reprisals and the risk of escalation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains staunchly opposed to Palestinian statehood and will address the General Assembly. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, also continues to oppose recognition, with President Trump’s administration having already warned it would deny visas to the Palestinian delegation.
Public opinion in the United States appears to be shifting, however. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August, 58 percent of Americans believe that all UN states should recognize Palestine as an independent state. This growing sentiment reflects broader international pressure on Israel to alter its course and address the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
The United Nations itself, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year amid a deep financial crisis and ongoing wars, finds its credibility and efficacy under scrutiny. "The multilateral system... is under an existential threat," warned Federico Borello, Interim Executive Director at Human Rights Watch, in remarks reported by AFP. He pointed to the weakening of international norms as powerful states, including permanent members of the Security Council, are accused of committing or being complicit in serious violations of international humanitarian law—in Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent progress not only on Gaza but also on Ukraine, Sudan, and climate change. "People are demanding answers and action, actions that match the gravity of the challenges our world faces, actions that meet the expectations of all those on the outside looking in," Guterres declared. The stakes, it seems, have never been higher—for Palestinians, Israelis, and the international order itself.
As global leaders gather and the world watches, the coming days at the United Nations may well mark a turning point—one that could reshape the landscape of Middle Eastern diplomacy, for better or worse.