'Will it rebuild our homes?': Palestinians react to nations recognising a Palestinian state

Palestinians have had a mixed response to the news of four Western nations formally recognising a Palestinian state, as Israel continues to pound Gaza, and nations maintain their arms sales to Tel Aviv.

Several members of the international community have hailed the United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia, and Canada's move, but Palestinians in Gaza remain sceptical, wondering what the recognition will do for the people in war-battered Gaza.

Mona Abu Samra from the al-Zeitoun neighbourhood in eastern Gaza questioned what practical impact the formal recognition will have.

"The world talks about recognising a Palestinian state, but I ask: did it take all this destruction and death in Gaza for the world to recognise us?" she told The New Arab.

The mother of five worked as a seamstress before her house was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in which her husband was also killed.

"Did I have to lose my husband and watch my children go hungry just so they would hear our voice? Recognition is nice in conferences and on television screens, but will it ever translate into reality? Will our homes be rebuilt? Will my children go back to school?"

Farmer Mahmoud al-Za'anin, from Beit Hanoun in north Gaza, also echoed the same sentiment.

"I hear about countries recognising Palestine, and I wonder: why didn't they recognise us before we lost our children, our homes, and our farms? Did we have to pay this unbearable price for the world to admit that we deserve a state?" al-Za'anin told The New Arab.

The farmer owned a small piece of land where he grew citrus and olives before it was bulldozed and bombed by the Israeli army, leaving him with nothing.

"Even if they do recognise us, who will rebuild my fields? Who will restore my simple life that was stolen from me? Recognition alone is not enough," al-Za'anin added, demanding greater action. 

The same pessimism has been felt across the enclave, where famine and disease have worsened conditions for survivors. Rana Abu Jehl, from the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, urged for more to be done, beyond formalities. 

"People ask us how we see international recognition of our state, and I ask back: did Gaza have to be destroyed above our heads for the world's conscience to move? Did we have to lose our brothers and live in tents for them to finally say we have the right to a state?" Abu Jehl told The New Arab.

"Even if they recognise us, what guarantees that this state will become a reality? Will they rebuild our homes? Will they make up for the dreams we buried under the rubble?" she added.

With France set to join the Western nations on Monday, Israel continues to wage its war on the Strip, having killed at least 61 Palestinians over the last 24 hours.

As Israel moves on with its Gaza City offensive, in a bid to occupy the region, Israel has pushed for the rapid annexation of the occupied West Bank. This move has been received with widespread international backlash.