On Sunday, Britain, Canada, and Australia officially confirmed their recognition of Palestinian statehood. This move significantly increases pressure on Israel to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and marks a notable diplomatic rift with the Trump administration.
These synchronized declarations occurred just ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York. Portugal later joined, confirming its own recognition of Palestine.
France, which initially signaled its intention in July, is also expected to vote for Palestinian state recognition at the U.N. this week, aligning with approximately 150 other member nations that have already done so.
This unified stance, spanning three continents, will further deepen the diplomatic isolation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, thus far, the recognition of a Palestinian state has not halted Israel’s military offensive against Hamas, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties in Gaza and left vast areas of the enclave in ruins.
Furthermore, these diplomatic steps are unlikely to immediately alter the on-the-ground reality. While recognition is a powerful symbolic gesture supporting Palestinian self-determination, the actual prospect of a viable Palestinian state—on land currently occupied or blockaded by the Israeli military—appears more distant than it has in decades.
“The hope for a two-state solution is fading, but we cannot allow that hope to extinguish,” stated British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a video message. “Today, to rekindle the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I declare unequivocally, as prime minister of this great nation, that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine.”
Canada and Australia released their respective statements shortly before Mr. Starmer’s announcement. Portugal’s foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, made his country’s decision public on Sunday afternoon from New York, asserting that a two-state solution is the “only path to a just and lasting peace.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the Israeli government of “systematically working to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this sentiment, stating that a two-state solution has “always been the sole path to enduring peace and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.”
These rapid announcements were met with praise from Palestinian leaders and sharp condemnation from Israel’s government.
“I have a clear message for those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: You are offering a massive reward to terrorism,” Mr. Netanyahu declared in a video statement on Sunday. “And I have another message for you: It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
The Palestinian Authority conveyed that its president, Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed Mr. Starmer’s announcement as “a crucial and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace.”
Mr. Starmer deliberately waited until after President Trump’s state visit to Britain last week to make the announcement. During his visit, Mr. Trump expressed disagreement with the move, preferring to prioritize efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas militants.
When Mr. Starmer initially outlined Britain’s intentions in late July, he specified that a final decision would depend on several conditions. He emphasized that Israel must address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, agree to a cease-fire with Hamas to facilitate hostage release, and pursue a long-term peace with Palestinians rooted in a two-state solution.
However, since that time, Israel has launched attacks targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, a Persian Gulf state that was central to cease-fire negotiations, making any agreement seem more remote than ever. Far from de-escalating, Israeli forces have intensified their combat operations, advancing further into Gaza City, the enclave’s primary urban center.
In his video, Mr. Starmer denounced “Israel’s relentless and escalating bombardment of Gaza,” describing the “starvation and devastation as utterly intolerable.” Yet, he also condemned Hamas as a “brutal terror organization.”
“This solution is not a reward for Hamas,” he affirmed, “because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”
Husam Badran, a senior Hamas leader, described Mr. Starmer’s announcement as “a step in the right direction, even if it came late.” However, in a message, he rejected British demands that Hamas play no political role in a future Palestinian state.
For Mr. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer before entering politics, this decision has involved a complex balancing act. He has sought to maintain alignment with the United States on critical issues like trade and the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the situation in Gaza presents profound moral and political challenges.
During his appearance alongside Mr. Trump last week, Mr. Starmer framed the recognition as part of a broader strategy, including advocating for hostage release and reigniting negotiations for a Palestinian state. Recognition, he explained, was “part of the overall package, which will hopefully transition us from the appalling situation we are currently facing.”
When a Fox News reporter suggested he delayed the announcement until Mr. Trump left Britain, Mr. Starmer responded with a passionate condemnation of Hamas, which earned him an approving pat on the shoulder from Mr. Trump, who remarked, “That’s good.”
Mr. Starmer highlighted that some of his extended family resides in Israel, and his British-born wife, Victoria, is Jewish. “I understand, firsthand, the psychological impact” of the Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in October 2023, he said. “So, I am absolutely clear about my stance on Hamas.”
Domestic political considerations also influenced Mr. Starmer’s decision. Pressure for greater action has mounted within his Labour Party and among the wider public, fueled by distressing images and videos of Palestinian suffering widely shared online and in news media.
“The U.K. government will undoubtedly hope this move grants them an extended period of calm without needing to take further action,” commented Daniel Levy, who leads the U.S./Middle East Project, a research institute based in London and New York. “However, if Israel’s actions continue to be as flagrant, aggressive, and unlawful as they are now, that outcome is highly improbable.”
“The U.K., along with other nations, will face scrutiny over ‘What has recognition truly changed?’” Mr. Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, added. “The answer will be nothing, and pressure will once again intensify for more significant measures.”
Critics, including Mr. Levy, contend that Britain’s government should have done more already. Despite calls from Labour Members of Parliament and legal experts, it has refrained from accusing Israel of genocide. Although it has suspended some weapons sales to Israel, it continues to supply components for F-35 fighter jets, which the Israeli Air Force uses in strikes on Gaza.
The British government previously imposed sanctions on two far-right ministers in Mr. Netanyahu’s cabinet: Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister. Downing Street also indicated that it could arrest Mr. Netanyahu if he entered Britain, committing to uphold its “legal obligations as outlined by domestic and international law.” The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him last November.
Britain’s recent action has further strained relations with Israel. Mr. Netanyahu cautioned that it might backfire on those advocating for a Palestinian state, vowing that Israel would intensify its construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
“For years,” Mr. Netanyahu stated, “I have successfully prevented the establishment of this terrorist state despite immense pressure from both within Israel and internationally.”