Ahead of the UN General Assembly speeches on Tuesday, leaders will gather on Monday for a summit - hosted by France and Saudi Arabia - that aims to build momentum toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, France - and in recent days Portugal - have pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state, although some have set conditions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be at the gathering in person. The U.S., a staunch Israeli ally, denied him a visa, drawing widespread criticism at the UN. On Friday, the General Assembly voted to allow him to appear via video.

"Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session of the General Assembly," said Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour.

So who has recognized Palestine, who has refused and how significant is such recognition?

Who currently recognizes Palestine?

The State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 147 of the 193 member states of the UN, or just over three quarters of all UN members.

Most of the nations that recognize a State of Palestine did so in 1988, including China, following the Palestine National Council's (PNC) declaration of the state. 

Many other non-Western states followed in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s but that number is rising amid growing anger at Israel's conduct during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Who is signing up this week?

Ten countries will this week pledge to recognize a Palestinian state during the UNGA in New York. They are: UK, France, Portugal, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Malta, Andorra, Luxembourg and San Marino.

This follows nine countries agreeing recognition last year, including Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia.

Who are the biggest non-signatories?

Unsurprisingly, Israel and the U.S. are vehemently opposed to the recognition of a Palestinian state. Germany is the largest European country to refuse recognition, along with Italy.

Other refuseniks include Japan, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea, Austria, Croatia and Greece. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has led the current drive for recognition.

What does recognition mean?

Palestine is a state that does not exist but has a large degree of international recognition and diplomatic missions abroad. It has the status of a 'permanent observer state' at the UN, allowing participation but no voting rights which are vehemently opposed by the U.S.

Recognition will allow countries to enter treaties with Palestine who in turn would be able to appoint fully recognized ambassadors. 

As a quasi-state, recognition is mostly symbolic but will represent a strong moral and political statement.

The UK has cited the Balfour Declaration it signed in 1917 which first expressed Britain's support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" three decades before the establishment of Israel. 

Although mainly symbolic, Palestinian recognition by the UK and France means that four out of five of the UN Security Council's five permanent members will have signed up to it.

By coordinating their actions this week, the new signatories hope to make a bigger impact and put pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, particularly as fears are rising that Israel may soon annex the West Bank.

What is Israel's response?

Israel says recognition would reward Hamas for the attacks that precipitated the war in October 2023.

After decades of being formally committed to a peace process ending in Palestinian independence, Israel is now run by its most far-right government, including parties sworn to make it impossible for the Palestinians ever to gain a state.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will never give up ultimate security control of Gaza or the West Bank.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said of the upcoming New York gathering: "We will remind the world once again that this war will not end with the hostages left behind in Gaza."

France's position as the major protagonist in the campaign of recognition are likely to put it at the forefront of any retaliatory measures.

American political news website Politico quoted two European officials and a person familiar with the Israeli government's thinking as saying Israel is preparing multiple options. Those could include accelerating West Bank annexations, closing the French consulate in Jerusalem, and encroaching on French-owned territory in Israel. 

Karim Amellal, a former French ambassador predicted that Israel "won't stop at anything in terms of retaliation."