Background and Rationale:

In recent months, a growing number of countries have formally recognized the State of Palestine, marking a historic shift in global diplomacy. Notably, France has become the first G7 country to announce its intent to recognize Palestine, following similar steps by Spain, Ireland, Norway, and a bloc of Caribbean states. This growing momentum has been significantly influenced by the 2023 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled that Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and constitutes apartheid under international law.

Despite these developments, the situation on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank remains dire, marked by continued occupation, blockade, settlement expansion, and humanitarian catastrophe. Recognition, though powerful, risks becoming a symbolic gesture if not coupled with concrete international action.

As an institution committed to Islamic economic justice, AFRIEF proposes to convene a high-level virtual colloquium to explore the legal, economic, and political implications of this global recognition movement. The event will examine how Islamic values and international law intersect in the quest for Palestinian statehood and what practical steps Muslim-majority countries, the Global South, and Islamic economic actors must take.