On Sunday, Britain, Canada, and Australia officially recognized Palestinian statehood. This move significantly increases pressure on Israel to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and creates a notable divergence with the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
These synchronized announcements were strategically timed, arriving just before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York. France and Portugal have also committed to voting in favor of Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN this week, adding to the approximately 150 nations that have already done so.
This unified diplomatic push, spanning three continents, is expected to further isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, despite these international efforts, the recognition of a Palestinian state has, to date, done little to halt Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas, which have resulted in vast devastation and numerous casualties in Gaza.
Realistically, these declarations are unlikely to bring immediate changes on the ground. Although recognizing Palestine is a powerful symbolic gesture supporting Palestinian self-determination, the actual creation of a functional Palestinian state, particularly in areas currently occupied or under Israeli blockade, appears more distant than it has been in decades.
Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expressed his concerns in a video statement, saying, “The aspiration for a two-state solution is diminishing, but we must not allow that hope to be extinguished.” He continued, “Today, to rekindle the prospects of peace and a two-state solution, I unequivocally declare, as Prime Minister of this esteemed nation, that the United Kingdom officially recognizes the State of Palestine.”
Both Canada and Australia publicly affirmed their decisions in separate statements issued shortly before Prime Minister Starmer’s announcement.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the Israeli government, stating it was “systematically working to impede the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that a two-state solution remains “the sole path to lasting peace and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian populations.”
These rapid-fire announcements garnered appreciation from Palestinian leadership while drawing strong condemnation from the Israeli government.
In a Sunday video statement, Mr. Netanyahu issued a stern warning: “To those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state following the horrific massacre of October 7th, you are essentially rewarding terrorism.” He added, “Let me be clear: It will not come to pass. A Palestinian state will never be established west of the Jordan River.”
The Palestinian Authority, through its president Mahmoud Abbas, expressed a warm welcome for Mr. Starmer’s declaration, calling it “a crucial and essential stride towards achieving a fair and enduring peace.”
Prime Minister Starmer deliberately postponed this action until after President Trump’s state visit to Britain last week. During his visit, Mr. Trump publicly stated his disagreement with the recognition, favoring instead a focus on negotiating the release of hostages held by Hamas militants.
Back in late July, when Mr. Starmer initially unveiled Britain’s intentions, he outlined several critical prerequisites for a final decision. He asserted that Israel needed to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, commit to a cease-fire deal with Hamas for hostage release, and actively work towards a lasting peace with Palestinians grounded in a two-state framework.
Following Starmer’s initial announcement, Israel conducted strikes against Hamas leaders residing in Qatar, a nation previously hosting cease-fire talks, thereby significantly diminishing the prospects of any agreement. Instead of de-escalating, Israeli forces intensified their combat operations, pushing deeper into Gaza’s primary urban hub, Gaza City.
In his address, Mr. Starmer unequivocally condemned “Israel’s persistent and escalating bombardment of Gaza,” asserting that the resulting “starvation and devastation are absolutely unacceptable.” Concurrently, he also denounced Hamas as a “brutal terror organization.”
“This resolution,” he clarified, “is not a concession to Hamas. On the contrary, it signifies that Hamas will have no future, no governmental role, and no part in security arrangements.”
Husam Badran, a high-ranking Hamas official, described Mr. Starmer’s announcement as “a move in the correct direction, albeit belated.” However, in a message to The New York Times, he firmly rejected Britain’s insistence that Hamas be excluded from any political involvement in a prospective Palestinian state.
For Mr. Starmer, whose background includes a career as a human-rights lawyer before his foray into politics, this decision represented a difficult tightrope walk. He has consistently aimed to prevent any significant policy gaps between Britain and the United States on matters such as trade and the conflict in Ukraine. Yet, the situation in Gaza presents deep moral and political dilemmas that are hard to reconcile.
During his appearance with Mr. Trump last week, Mr. Starmer framed the recognition as one component of a broader strategy, which also involves advocating for hostage releases and revitalizing talks for a Palestinian state. He stated that recognition was “part of the comprehensive approach, which we hope will guide us out of the current dreadful predicament.”
When pressed by a Fox News reporter about seemingly delaying the announcement until after Mr. Trump’s departure from Britain, Mr. Starmer delivered a vehement condemnation of Hamas. This impassioned statement earned him an approving pat on the shoulder from Mr. Trump, who remarked, “That’s good.”
Mr. Starmer shared that he has extended family in Israel, including his British-born Jewish wife, Victoria. “I intimately understand the psychological toll,” he explained, referring to the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers in October 2023. “Therefore, my position regarding Hamas is absolutely clear.”
Internal political considerations also influenced Mr. Starmer’s choice. There has been growing pressure within his Labour Party and among the wider public to take stronger action, fueled by distressing images and videos of Palestinian suffering widely shared across online platforms and news outlets.
Daniel Levy, head of the U.S./Middle East Project, a research institute based in London and New York, commented that “The U.K. government likely hopes this action will afford them a prolonged period of calm, obviating the need for further diplomatic steps.” He cautioned, however, that “if Israel’s conduct remains as egregious, aggressive, and unlawful as it is now, that outcome is highly improbable.”
Mr. Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, further observed that “The U.K., alongside other nations, will face scrutiny with the question, ‘What has this recognition actually achieved?’” He predicted, “The answer will be ‘nothing,’ and the demand for more impactful actions will intensify once more.”
Critics, including Levy, fault the British government for its perceived inaction. They point out that it has refrained from accusing Israel of genocide, despite strong urging from Labour MPs and legal professionals. Furthermore, while some weapon sales to Israel have been paused, Britain continues to provide components for F-35 fighter jets, which the Israeli Air Force employs in its Gaza strikes.
The British government has imposed sanctions on two far-right members of Mr. Netanyahu’s cabinet: Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Additionally, Downing Street indicated that Mr. Netanyahu could face arrest if he entered Britain, asserting its commitment to upholding “legal obligations as mandated by domestic and international law.” The International Criminal Court had already issued an arrest warrant for him last November.
This recent action by Britain has exacerbated its strained relationship with Israel. Mr. Netanyahu cautioned that such recognition could prove counterproductive for advocates of a Palestinian state, pledging that Israel would accelerate the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
“For a considerable time,” Mr. Netanyahu asserted, “I have successfully thwarted the creation of this terrorist state, despite immense pressure from both domestic and international fronts.”
Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting from Jerusalem.