But following Hamas' October 7 attacks and Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza, diplomats are reconsidering the once controversial ideas.
In 2014, Sweden, which has a large Palestinian community, became the first EU member state in Western Europe to recognize Palestinian statehood.
It had previously been recognized by six other European countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania.
Hamas attacks on October 7 killed more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to AFP calculations based on Israeli official figures.
Hamas also took 252 people hostage, 124 of them in Gaza, 37 of whom were killed according to the military.
Israel's retaliatory strikes have killed at least 35,647 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.