The recognition of Palestine as a state was formally announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Who Recognizes and Does Not Recognize the State of Palestine
Starmer stressed that London’s decision was intended "to revive hope for peace and a two-state solution." At the same time, he described Hamas as "a brutal terrorist organization" that "must play no role in government," and promised new sanctions against its leaders in addition to those already in place. "This [recognition of Palestine] is the complete opposite of their malicious plans. This decision is not a reward for Hamas," he said. The Prime Minister also reminded: "More than 75 years ago we recognized the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. Today we join more than 150 countries that also recognize the State of Palestine."
In the Canadian Prime Minister’s statement, he said the current Israeli government "relentlessly expands its network of settlements in the West Bank," while regular strikes on Gaza "have killed tens of thousands of civilians" and caused catastrophic famine. It is in this context that Ottawa recognizes Palestine and "offers its partnership in building a peaceful future for both Palestine and Israel."
In a joint statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that Canberra "recognizes the legitimate and long-standing aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood." The move, they said, is seen in Australia as "part of a coordinated international effort to create new momentum for a two-state solution."
Meanwhile, Politico notes that French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced on Monday his intention to recognize Palestine, is seeking to unite several Western countries as a counterweight to the US and Israel by advancing the idea of a Palestinian state. According to the outlet, his aim is to shape an alternative perspective and increase pressure on Israel to achieve peace.
"Comparisons are already being drawn with France’s defiance under Jacques Chirac, who opposed the US during the 2003 invasion of Iraq—a stance he laid out in a landmark UN speech. The domestic dimension is also evident: European leaders are seeking to capitalize on rising public discontent with the war, which has grown as the death toll in Gaza increases. According to a YouGov poll, support for Israel in Western Europe has fallen to a historic low," Politico writes.
The Washington Post, in turn, notes that the decision by the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia to recognize Palestine undermines their relations with the United States. The outlet predicts that Washington will use its veto power in the UN Security Council to block a resolution on international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Against this backdrop, Israel’s reaction was swift. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would outline his position in the coming days: "At the UN I will present the truth. It is Israel’s truth, but also the objective truth of our just struggle against the forces of evil and our vision of real peace—peace through strength."
Netanyahu’s spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian added: "The Prime Minister’s message to the countries that ignore the chaos Hamas has inflicted on Gaza and Israel—including our soldiers, families and, of course, the hostages still held by Hamas—is that the people of Israel are not about to commit national suicide to satisfy the political needs of European politics."