Japan does not recognize Palestinian state at UN meet

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya delivers a speech at an international conference on Palestinian issues at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2025

Japan on Monday stopped short of joining the growing list of countries recognizing a Palestinian state at a high-level U.N. meeting but emphasized that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“The issue of recognizing a Palestinian state is not a matter of if, but of when,” Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told the conference at the world body’s headquarters in New York.

“While carefully monitoring developments in the region, Japan will continue its comprehensive deliberations with even greater seriousness.”

Japan’s decision not to recognize Palestinian statehood is at odds with several major Western countries, including Britain, Canada and France, and aligned with the United States, Tokyo’s closest ally.

The number of countries recognizing Palestine has reached nearly 160, surpassing 80 percent of 193 U.N. member states.

However, unlike the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has given strong support to Israel in its conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Iwaya said that Japan “strongly condemns” Israel’s “unilateral” actions, including the intensification of military operations in Gaza and expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

“Should Israel take further actions that block the path to the realization of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to introduce new measures in response,” Iwaya said.

At the same time, Iwaya urged Hamas to release all remaining hostages captured by the militant group during its 2023 attack on Israel and disarm.

Ahead of the General Debate of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted the conference aimed at reviving momentum for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized a Palestinian state, following Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal, which did so on Sunday.

Macron said the recognition is “the only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace.”

The United States, the only permanent member of the U.N. Security Council not to recognize Palestinian statehood, and Israel boycotted the meeting.

They have asserted that recognizing a Palestinian state will embolden Hamas and prolong the nearly-two year-long war.