Who Will Lead a Recognized Palestinian State? A Complex Question Emerges

Tue Oct 21 2025 21:41:13 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Following renewed calls for recognition of a Palestinian state by countries including the UK, a debate ensues about the leadership and unity of the Palestinian territories.

As international recognition of a Palestinian state becomes a reality with support from nations like the UK, the pressing question arises about who will lead such a state. The divide between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza complicates the landscape, underscoring the need for new leadership and a defined government structure amidst ongoing violence and territorial disputes.

Earlier this month, a Palestinian diplomat called Husam Zomlot was invited to a discussion at the Chatham House think tank in London.

Belgium had just joined the UK, France, and other countries in promising to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in New York. Dr. Zomlot was clear that this was a significant moment. What you will see in New York might be the actual last attempt at implementing the two-state solution, he warned. Let that not fail.

Weeks on, that has now come to pass. The UK, Canada, and Australia, traditionally strong allies of Israel, have taken this step. Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK's move in a video posted on social media, stating, In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution. That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state - at the moment we have neither.

Over 150 countries have previously recognized a Palestinian state, but the inclusion of the UK and other nations is seen as a significant development. Palestine has never been more powerful worldwide than it is now, reflects Xavier Abu Eid, a former Palestinian official. The world is mobilized for Palestine.

Amidst this backdrop, complicated questions remain, particularly regarding the definition of Palestine and its leadership. In the context of the 1933 Montevideo Convention, Palestine can lay claim to two crucial criteria: a permanent population and the capacity to enter into international relations. However, it does not yet fit the requirement of a defined territory.

An analysis highlights the territorial fragmentation of Palestine; the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been geographically separated by Israel for over seventy years. In the West Bank, the Israeli military presence and settlements mean the Palestinian Authority administers only around 40% of the territory. Meanwhile, East Jerusalem is encircled by Israeli settlements, while Gaza has suffered catastrophic damage due to ongoing conflict.

Such geographic and political fragmentation emphasizes a critical challenge: the lack of a cohesive and effective governing body. Presently, the leadership is divided between Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, led by Mahmoud Abbas. With Abbas approaching 90 years of age and no elections held in nearly two decades, there is a growing call for a new Palestinian leadership.

Amidst the chaos of internal discord and external pressures, one figure stands out — Marwan Barghouti, a prominent leader who has remained incarcerated for over 20 years yet remains a popular choice among Palestinians. Recent polling shows that 50% would choose him as president over the current leadership.

As the situation unfolds, Prime Minister Netanyahu vehemently opposes any notion of Palestinian statehood, insisting there will be no role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza's future governance. Given such constraints, the journey toward establishing a recognized Palestinian state is laden with obstacles, leaving many to question whether current international recognition will translate into meaningful progress or merely serve as symbolic approval.