Less than two years after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized a ‘Palestinian state.’
“The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, has just announced the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state,” The Guardian (UK) reported Sunday afternoon. “It comes shortly after Canada and Australia both decided to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.”
“Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly – as prime minister of this great country – that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine,” he said in a televised statement.
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the decision, calling it an ‘absurd prize for terrorism,’ while Israel is still fighting in Gaza to free the hostages held in Hamas captivity since October 7, 2023.
Canada and Australia, both members of the British Commonwealth, appear to have coordinated their move with London.
Ahead of Starmer’s speech, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement, saying “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.”
In Australia, the country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, released a joint statement. “Australia recognises the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own,” the duo said.
“Today’s act of recognition reflects Australia’s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian people,” they added.
Reuters reports:
Britain said on Sunday it was recognising a Palestinian state after Israel failed to meet conditions including a ceasefire in the nearly two-year-old Gaza war.”Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X. (…)The decision carries symbolic weight as Britain played a major role in Israel’s creation as a modern nation in the aftermath of World War Two and has long been its ally.Canada and Australia also recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday and other countries are expected to do so this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.In a move that put Starmer at odds with U.S. President Donald Trump, Britain had issued Israel with an ultimatum in July saying it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza.Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission in London, called the decision a “long-overdue recognition” that “is not about Palestine, but about Britain’s fulfilment of a solemn responsibility”.
Portugal is set to make a similar announcement later today. France, Belgium, and Portugal plan to recognize a ‘Palestinian state’ early next month at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
French newspaper Le Monde reported:
Portugal was also to recognize Palestinian statehood later Sunday, as Israel came under huge international pressure over the war in Gaza triggered almost two years ago by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Portugal said that it would also formally declare its recognition in New York. “By acting now, as the Portuguese government has decided, we’re keeping alive the possibility of having two states,” Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said.
Without commenting on today’s development, Prime Minister Netanyahu, on Sunday, vowed to fight “against the slanderous propaganda aimed at us, and against the calls to create a Palestinian state that will endanger our existence and constitute an absurd prize for terrorism.”
“The international community will hear from us on this matter in the following days,” he said, referring to the upcoming UN conference.
“At the UN, I will present the truth,” he told reporters. “It is the truth of Israel but it is also the objective truth of our just struggle against the forces of evil.”
The families of hostages also condemned the decision taken by the UK, Canada, and Australia to reward Palestinian terrorism. As the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre approaches, Hamas still holds 48 hostages in Gaza.
The Times of Israel reported:
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issues a statement condemning the UK, Canada and Australia for the “unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.”“As families who deeply want peace in the region, we believe that any discussion about recognizing a Palestinian state must be contingent upon the immediate release of all hostages,” the forum says, calling it a “moral and humanitarian imperative.”The forum urges other nations to “act responsibly and ensure that any ‘day after’ discussions occur only after our loved ones are brought home.”“We seek an end to this war, the safe return of all hostages, and a sustainable peace that benefits both peoples,” it says, adding that any action otherwise “effectively enables terrorism while legitimizing the October 7th massacre.”“Offering such significant political rewards without securing the return of all 48 of our loved ones represents a catastrophic failure of political, moral, and diplomatic leadership that will severely damage efforts to bring them all home,” the forum adds.
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