UK, Australia, Canada, and Portugal recognize Palestine
Israeli airstrikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. Wikimedia
The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada formally recognized Palestinian statehood during the annual United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York on September 21. The coordinated announcement marked a rare reversal of longstanding Western policy towards the Israel-Palestine question and underscored mounting frustration with the lack of progress toward a peaceful resolution of the situation in Gaza. Leaders of the three countries described the decision as necessary for advancing peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, while clarifying that any future governance proposals for the Palestinian people must exclude Hamas, the terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip.
France and Portugal also recently announced recognition of Palestinian statehood, though Portugal stressed that its decision was independent of the trilateral announcement. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said recognition alone cannot resolve the crisis, noting, “It does not erase the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.” His remarks reflected a broader concern that more needs to be done to help the civilians caught in between the crossfire in the conflict that has killed over 68,000 people on both sides.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the recognition of Palestine as a “prize to terror” and vowed that “there will be no Palestinian state.” He argued that legitimizing Palestine under current conditions would embolden Hamas and other Islamist groups to continue their attacks on the Jewish state, such as the events that unfolded on October 7.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed the criticism, calling the Western declarations “infuriating and immoral.” He emphasized that Israel’s future would not be determined abroad, declaring, “The future of the Land of Israel will not be decided in London or Paris—it will be decided here, in Jerusalem.”
Analysts suggest the coordinated recognition signals a growing divide among Western allies. While the United States remains opposed to unilateral recognition, other governments appear increasingly willing to act without Washington’s backing. Some observers argue that the announcements could isolate Israel diplomatically and increase pressure to re-engage in negotiations. Others caution that the declarations may harden positions, especially given Israel’s insistence on excluding Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority’s limited ability to govern effectively across both the West Bank and Gaza.
The long-term impact remains uncertain. If additional nations join the recognition effort, it could strengthen calls for the UN to revisit the question of Palestinian membership and potentially set the stage for renewed multilateral talks. Yet without concrete steps on governance, security guarantees, and accountability, recognition alone is unlikely to deliver meaningful change on the ground.