The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada officially recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday, ahead of similar announcements by other countries and the UN General Assembly—a historic yet largely symbolic decision criticized by Israel.
This recognition by Israel’s traditional allies comes as the Israeli military has intensified its offensive in Gaza, triggered by a deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in 2023.
Israel faces increasing international pressure over the dire humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer justified the move as an effort to “revive hope for peace and a two-state solution,” in a video message shared on social media.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a similar point, stating in a press release that the recognition is “part of a concerted international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.”
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted “the legitimate and long-standing aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own.”
“Danger”
A growing number of other countries, long close to Israel, have also taken this symbolic step in recent months, despite strong pressure from the United States and Israel.
At a summit on Monday co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia—which will examine the future of the two-state solution ahead of the UN General Assembly—around ten countries are expected to formally recognize the Palestinian state.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends to expand settlements in occupied West Bank and insisted there will be no Palestinian state. “It will not happen. No Palestinian state will emerge west of the Jordan,” he said in a video released by his office.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the decision in a statement, calling it “not conducive to peace but rather further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir suggested responding with the “immediate” annexation of the West Bank.
“Victory”
In contrast, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the British decision as “an important and necessary step toward the realization of a just and lasting peace.”
A senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, told AFP it was “a victory for the rights of the Palestinian people.”
Responding to Israeli government criticism, Keir Starmer reiterated that the decision “is not a reward to Hamas,” which “cannot have any future or role” in Palestine.
London will impose further sanctions on the Islamist movement “in the coming weeks,” he added, reiterating his call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and for a ceasefire.
A survey published Friday showed that 44% of Britons support the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state, with thousands regularly demonstrating in favor of Palestine.
Portugal is also expected to announce its recognition of the Palestinian state on Sunday.
Divergence with the United States
This move further highlights differences with the US administration on the Middle East conflict.
The United States, a steadfast ally of Israel, criticized the Franco-Saudi initiative.
During a state visit to the UK this week, US President Donald Trump expressed his disagreement with the British decision.
About three-quarters of the UN’s 193 member states recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988.
This major diplomatic push comes as Israel launched a large-scale ground and air military campaign in northern Gaza City this week, aiming to destroy Hamas.
On Tuesday, an independent UN-mandated commission found that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim denied by Israeli authorities.
The October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas killed 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to official data.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli reprisals have killed 65,062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas has been in power since 2007.
AFP
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