Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state has been supported by lawmakers in a symbolic declaration issued during Israel's war on Gaza. With 99 out of 120 lawmakers backing the stance, the Israeli position emphasizes that any permanent accord with Palestinians must be achieved through direct negotiations between the two sides as opposed to international impositions.

The last talks on Palestinian statehood occurred in 2014, when Israel opposed a state encompassing all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. Netanyahu, despite stating his opposition to a Palestinian state, positioned himself as a barrier against its establishment. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the recent vote, accusing Israel of encumbering Palestinian rights with its occupation of territories crucial for the state's formation.

Calls for recognizing Palestinian statehood have resonated globally to halt ongoing conflicts. Israel's rejection of external pressures to end the occupation and embrace a two-state solution was reinforced through the parliamentary vote, indicating unity against forced recognition. Progress towards a two-state solution since the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s has been hindered by illegal Israeli settlements in captured territories, which violate international law and fragment Palestinian communities.

Efforts to establish a Palestinian state are part of a broader Middle East deal proposed by the United States, involving Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations normalizing relations with Israel. However, critics contend that Israel's actions, particularly settlement expansion, have rendered a sovereign Palestinian state unfeasible, shifting focus towards a one-state future with equal rights for all involved parties.