Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, a move seen as both a rebuke of Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and an attempt to pressure it into accepting a two-state solution.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his decision to join more than 150 other nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood was made “to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.”
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“With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict, and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two-state solution is fading. But we cannot let that light go out,” Starmer said in a video statement announcing the recognition on Sunday.
Read more: Which countries have recognized a Palestinian state?
The largely symbolic move puts the countries at odds with the Trump Administration, which has stood firm beside its close ally Israel and opposed any move towards Palestinian statehood.
Starmer had announced his intention to recognize a Palestinian state in late July, but said he would defer if Israel took steps to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas, and pursued peace that allowed Palestinians their own state.
The United Kingdom’s recognition holds particular resonance due to its prominent role in the foundation of Israel.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also announced his country’s recognition on Sunday.
“Canada recognises 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.
The apparently coordinated action by the three countries comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly this week, where France and Portugal are also expected to recognize the State of Palestine.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin welcomed the announcements.
“It is a move bringing us closer to sovereignty and independence. It might not end the war tomorrow, but it’s a move forward, which we need to build on and amplify,” she said.
Israel’s foreign ministry called the move “nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas”.
“This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary – further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future,” it added in a post on X.
This is a developing story.