Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal on Sunday formally recognized a Palestinian state amidst mounting global frustration over Israel’s aggression in Gaza and a desire to promote a two-state solution.
The four nations’ decision aligned with about 140 other countries, who have backed Palestinians’ aspirations to forge an independent homeland from Israel-occupied territories. “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Similarly, Canadian P.M. Mark Carney announced that his country now recognizes the state of Palestine. “Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel,” he said.
Australian P.M. Anthony Albanese said his country was also recognizing Palestine as part of an effort to revive momentum for a two-state solution that starts with a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held there.
Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Rangel said his country has now recognized the State of Palestine. “The recognition of the state of Palestine is the realization of a fundamental, constant, and fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy,” he told reporters at the headquarters of Portugal’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.
“Portugal advocates the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace … a ceasefire is urgent,” he said. Hamas “cannot have any form of control in Gaza or outside it,” he added, and demanded the release of all hostages.
The announcements come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, when other counties are also expected to recognize a Palestinian state.
Hope with caveats
The recognition announcements were hailed by Palestinians in Gaza as a sign of hope—though Israelis expressed anger, highlight the troubled road ahead for any potential two-state solution.
“We shouldn’t just be numbers in the news,” Salwa Mansour, displaced from Rafah to Al-Mawasi, told the AFP news agency. “This recognition shows that the world is finally starting to hear our voice and that, in itself, is a moral victory,” she added.
Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission in London, called the decision a “long-overdue recognition,” adding it is “not about Palestine, but about Britain’s fulfilment of a solemn responsibility.” He said the U.K. announcement marked “an irreversible step towards justice, peace, and the correction of historic wrongs.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, accused the leaders of the U.K., Australia and Canada of “giving a huge reward to terrorism.” He also vowed that there would be no Palestinian state and Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas would continue.
The U.S. meanwhile, has likened the announcements to theatrics, claiming it is working to achieve genuine progress.
New summit
On Monday (today), France and Saudi Arabia are set to convene dozens of world leaders to rally support for a two-state solution, with several of them expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
France has driven the move, hoping that President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement in July that he would recognize a Palestinian state would give greater momentum to a movement thus far dominated by smaller nations that are generally more critical of Israel.
Israel and the United States have announced a boycott of the summit, with Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon describing the event as a “circus.”