The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines welcomes the recognition of various nations on the State of Palestine during the High-Level International Conference in New York on Tuesday, September 23.
In a post on X, the DFA said the conference gathered countries expressing solidarity and calling for an end to the war and suffering in Gaza.
“The Philippines has always stood for two-state solution as the only viable path to peace in the Middle East,” the post read.
The two-state solution reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinians to self-determination, national independence, and sovereignty, according to DFA.
Countries such as France, Portugal, Australia, Monaco, Canada, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Andorra are among the nations which have already declared recognition of the statehood of Palestine.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Foreign Affairs chief Enrique Manalo represented the country.
In August, the Philippines joined the urgent call to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The Philippines therefore strongly calls on Israel to heed the ceasefire proposal as a crucial step to protect civilians and revive the path to peace,” the statement read.
The Palestinian embassy in Manila also released a statement on Monday thanking all nations for their expressions of support, adding it is “heartened by the international community’s willingness to hold Israel accountable for its actions.”
“While recognition is a vital step, it must be accompanied by practical measures to end the war in Gaza, ensure humanitarian aid access, and halt Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank,” said Ambassador of the State of Palestine Mounir Y.K. Anastas.
The Philippines established diplomatic relations with Palestine on September 4, 1989.
