In Ramallah - the de facto Palestinian capital of the occupied West Bank - many fear Western recognition of Palestinian statehood is too little, too late.

I'm really glad that there are people who can see our suffering in Palestine and understand the problems we're going through, says Diaa, 23, who did not want to give his full name.

But while recognition is important, what we really need are solutions. This city is home to government buildings, diplomatic missions, and a sprawling presidential palace.

But for many Palestinians, the dream remains that East Jerusalem - just a few miles south but largely cut off by Israel's separation barrier - could become their capital under a two-state solution, which would create an independent Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, alongside Israel.

With this stated goal, the UK, France, Australia, Canada, and others announced formal recognition of the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly.

Recognition is a positive after all this time, says Kamal Daowd, 40, on a busy Ramallah street. But without international pressure it will not be enough.

If recognition comes without giving us our rights, he states, then it's nothing more than ink on paper. Israel has labeled the Western move a reward for terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday, there will be no Palestinian state, while ultranationalists in his governing coalition have urged for the annexation of the West Bank.

Israel has constructed about 160 settlements since occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them. The settlements are deemed illegal under international law.

In the aftermath of the conflict, new Israeli military checkpoints have emerged, making daily life exceedingly difficult for Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority struggles under economic strain as Israel withholds tax revenues, leading to drastic reductions in salaries for public employees.

While hope for a Palestinian state lingers among some, the current realities reflect a daunting landscape of obstacles and uncertainty.

Ordinary Palestinians like Diaa feel disheartened by the ongoing challenges. People feel that the national dream is almost impossible, he concludes.