GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians have expressed guarded hope following a new wave of Western recognition of the State of Palestine as Israel presses ahead with its military offensive in Gaza. The move has sparked strong opposition from Israel and marked a divergence from the United States, which has long opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. For many Palestinians, however, such developments raise a pressing question: Will international gestures translate into real change on the ground -- or remain largely symbolic? If we do not have a strong presence in the West Bank and Gaza, recognitions will remain largely symbolic." Mansour argued that Israel views recognitions as a threat and seeks to downplay them through military pressure.