Trump slams moves to recognize Palestinian state as reward for Hamas atrocities at the UN

Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald Trump condemned moves by several Western powers to recognize a Palestinian state, arguing such steps would reward Hamas for the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and derail efforts to secure hostages' release. He urged world leaders to join him in pressing for a hostage deal rather than embracing a symbolic state recognition that he said would embolden Hamas.

Trump told delegates that recognizing Palestine would be a reward for the attacks and a distraction from pressing Hamas for the release of hostages. He said the world should instead unite to demand the hostages come home now and avoid actions that could empower Hamas. About 251 people were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, in the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, and roughly 48 hostages were believed to remain in Gaza. In the days leading up to his remarks, France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal announced plans to recognize Palestine, with other major powers expected to follow.

The moves were described as largely symbolic but have widened rifts with Israel. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, dismissed the recognition bids as a "charade" and said they did nothing to end the fighting in Gaza. He told reporters that such steps were not aimed at peace and, instead, supported terrorism. The war in Gaza has devastated the enclave, displaced nearly 2 million people, and left more than 1,200 people dead in the broader conflict.

Regardless of how many nations recognize Palestine, the United States maintains a veto on the U.N. Security Council and has frequently used it to block resolutions critical of Israel. After his UN speech, Trump planned to meet with Arab leaders to discuss Gaza and efforts to end the fighting, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Axios reported that Washington is pushing for Arab and Muslim countries to provide military support for Gaza security efforts and to fund reconstruction efforts, including a governance framework in which Hamas would be excluded from post-war arrangements.

The note of opposition to unilateral recognition comes as the global debate over Gaza’s future intensifies. The United States remains a steadfast ally of Israel, while Western partners wrestle with how to respond to the humanitarian crisis and the political implications of recognizing a Palestinian state. The UN and other international actors have continued to press for a path to de-escalation, hostage releases, and a political process that excludes Hamas from any long‑term governance plan.

As the security situation remains fluid, Trump’s remarks underscored a broader debate over how to balance diplomacy, hostage negotiations, and the fight against terrorism amid a protracted war that has reshaped regional alignments and international opinion. The conflict’s human toll and political ramifications are likely to dominate diplomatic discussions in the weeks ahead, even as a complex mix of recognition moves and security considerations continues to unfold.