Washington: Over a dozen US House Democrats have signed a letter urging the Trump administration to officially recognize a Palestinian state, Axios reported on Monday. In the letter addressed to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for recognizing Palestinian self-determination, especially in light of recent global events.

According to Anadolu Agency, the lawmakers referenced French President Emmanuel Macron's recent commitment to recognize a Palestinian state during a United Nations meeting in September, a move that Secretary Rubio has strongly opposed. The letter expressed hope that other nations, including the United States, would follow suit in recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Representative Ro Khanna, leading the initiative, shared with Axios that he had just begun outreach efforts and was met with an overwhelming positive response. Khanna mentioned that the recognition could align with the recently passed Arab League Plan, which supports a Palestinian state and recognizes Israel as a Jewish democratic state. He noted that 147 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, highlighting the importance of aligning with the international community.

Countries such as France, Britain, Canada, and Malta have shown intentions to recognize a Palestinian state in September, with Australia possibly joining them. Spain, Norway, and Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024, followed by Slovenia in June, increasing the number of UN member states recognizing Palestine to 149 out of 193.

The ongoing conflict has seen the Israeli army's intense offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 60,300 Palestinians. The continuous bombardment has caused severe devastation in the region, leading to critical food shortages and fatalities due to starvation.