Death and diplomacy

Another ten Western countries recognized the independence of Palestine in the previous days. The largest are France, Great Britain, Australia and Canada. "We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution," French President Emmanuel Macron said in New York.

Although Palestine has so far been recognized by more than 150 UN members, this means little on the ground in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army has killed more than 65.000 people, mostly civilians, and destroyed around 90 percent of buildings since the beginning of the conflict.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in New York that a solution with two states - Israeli and Palestinian peacefully coexisting - is not possible when the people of one of those states are "victims of genocide". "The Palestinian people are being destroyed. In the name of reason, in the name of international law and in the name of human dignity, we must stop this slaughterhouse," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a man on the international wanted list, called the wave of recognition of Palestine a "reward for terrorism." US President Donald Trump also opposes the recognition.

In Israel, the "diplomatic tsunami", as the press calls it, caused galvanization and condemnations from the ranks of the opposition as well. "The Israelis have the feeling that these countries that made such a stupid decision should be shown that the consequences will be completely different from those they hoped for," said Yakov Amidror, an analyst and former Netanyahu adviser.

Apart from the occupation of Gaza, observers believe that the Israeli authorities could order the complete annexation of the West Bank, as well as the expulsion of some Western diplomats.