New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move, four major Western nations—the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia—announced their formal recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state on Sunday, aligning with over 140 UN member states. This coordinated decision, driven by escalating frustration over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, marks a pivotal moment in international diplomacy and signals renewed momentum for a two-state solution. As the UN General Assembly convenes in New York, this development could inspire further recognitions, with France expected to follow.
The Legal Framework of State Recognition
State recognition is a formal act where one state acknowledges another as sovereign. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention, a state must possess a permanent population, defined territory, effective government, and the capacity to engage in international relations. Recognition grants critical privileges, including:
- Establishing diplomatic ties with other states.
- Negotiating treaties.
- Enjoying international statehood rights.
- Potential eligibility for UN membership.
Palestine, however, remains a UN “Permanent Observer State,” not a full member, as the UN itself cannot recognize states or governments—a prerogative reserved for individual nations. This status limits Palestine’s ability to secure a full UN seat, particularly with the US, a veto-wielding Security Council member, opposing recognition at this stage.
Portugal’s Commitment to Peace
Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel announced the recognition at the UN headquarters in New York, describing it as the “fulfillment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy.” Speaking to reporters, he emphasized Portugal’s longstanding advocacy for a two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. Rangel called for an urgent ceasefire, underscoring that this move aligns with Portugal’s core foreign policy principles and aims to foster coexistence.
UK’s Policy Reversal Under Keir Starmer
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the recognition in a video statement, marking a significant departure from previous British policies. The announcement followed a visit by US President Donald Trump, who publicly opposed the move. “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 recognizes the state of Palestine,” Starmer said, noting that the UK joins over 150 nations in this step.
Starmer referenced Britain’s recognition of Israel over 75 years ago and its 1917 pledge to support a Jewish homeland while protecting non-Jewish communities. He wrote to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to confirm the decision, specifying that recognition applies to provisional borders based on 1967 lines, subject to future land swaps. Starmer cited the “man-made humanitarian crisis” in Gaza—marked by bombardment, starvation, and devastation—as “utterly intolerable,” prompting action after Israel failed to meet his deadline for a ceasefire and peace commitments by the UN General Assembly.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged that recognition alone won’t address immediate needs like humanitarian aid or hostage releases but stressed its role in upholding the two-state vision. Londoner Michael Angus, a 56-year-old charity director, called it a “first step” toward affirming Palestinians’ right to a homeland, though he emphasized the need for broader peace efforts.
Canada’s Stand Against Israeli Policies
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Israel’s “methodical” efforts to prevent Palestinian statehood, citing illegal West Bank settlement expansions and the Gaza campaign, which has killed over 65,000 Palestinians, displaced over a million, and caused famine. “The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established,” Carney stated, noting violations of international law.
Canada’s recognition, he clarified, supports those seeking peaceful coexistence and excludes Hamas, which he insisted “can play no part” in governance. The Palestinian Authority committed to Canada on reforms, 2026 elections without Hamas, and demilitarization. Carney offered partnership to build a peaceful future for both Palestine and Israel.
Australia’s Push for Two-State Momentum
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong, announced recognition as part of a coordinated effort with the UK and Canada. The decision aims to revive momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release. Albanese emphasized that it acknowledges Palestinians’ “legitimate and long-held aspirations” for statehood, explicitly stating that Hamas must have “no role in Palestine.”
Global Reactions: Israel’s Fury, Palestinian Hope
Israel reacted with outrage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the recognitions a “huge reward to terrorism,” referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. He vowed no Palestinian state would emerge west of the Jordan River and pledged to double settlements in the West Bank, which he called Judea and Samaria. Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed annexing the West Bank, escalating tensions.
Palestinians welcomed the moves. Sharaf Al Tarda from Hebron called it a “human duty” to support Palestinians amid their ordeal. Hamas acknowledged the step but urged “practical measures” to end the Gaza war and halt West Bank annexation. President Abbas said it paves the way for peaceful coexistence with Israel. Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, celebrated it as correcting historical wrongs, potentially upgrading the mission to an embassy.
West Bank Jenin Mayor Mohammed Jarrar stressed that recognition affirms Palestine’s existence under occupation, countering Israel’s annexation plans. However, critics like Mandy Damari, mother of a former British-Israeli hostage, called Starmer’s decision a “two-state delusion,” arguing it rewards Hamas while hostages remain captive. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK labeled it a “betrayal,” noting 48 hostages, about 20 alive, remain in Gaza.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe
The recognitions stems from outrage over Gaza’s crisis. Israel’s campaign has killed over 65,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, per local health authorities, with a recent 24-hour period reporting 71 deaths and 304 injuries. Famine, confirmed in August, has spread, with infrastructure destroyed and populations displaced multiple times. A recent Israeli airstrike on a Hamas negotiating team in Qatar stalled ceasefire talks, while a UN inquiry accused Israel of genocide—a claim Israel rejected.
Images of starving children and displaced families, like those fleeing northern Gaza on September 21, 2025, have intensified global pressure. Illegal West Bank settlement expansions further fueled the decisions, with Netanyahu admitting Israel faces “a sort of isolation.”
Britain’s Historical Role
Britain’s recognition carries symbolic weight due to its historical role. In 1917, British troops captured Jerusalem from the Ottomans, and in 1922, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate to administer Palestine, shaping the modern Middle East. Starmer’s move seeks to address this legacy, as Zomlot noted, “correcting history.”
Domestic and International Fallout
In the UK, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the move “absolutely disastrous” for rewarding terrorism, while Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel accused Starmer of capitulating to Labour’s hard-left. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed it as “long overdue.” Public pressure, driven by images of Gaza’s suffering and arms supplies to Israel, has grown, with countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland threatening to boycott the European Song Contest if Israel participates.
Globally, 147 of 193 UN states recognize Palestine, but its lack of defined borders, capital, or army makes recognition symbolic. The US, Israel’s closest ally, opposes the move, with Trump calling it a “reward” for Hamas. The UN Security Council, where the US holds veto power, remains a barrier to Palestine’s full membership.
Toward a Two-State Future?
The two-state solution envisions Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, along pre-1967 lines. Yet, challenges persist: the Palestinian Authority controls parts of the West Bank, while Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007. Starmer, Carney, and Albanese stressed that Hamas has no role in Palestine’s future, with the UK planning further sanctions.
As the UN General Assembly unfolds, more nations may recognize Palestine, amplifying calls for peace. While symbolic, these steps highlight Israel’s growing isolation and bolster Palestinian aspirations, urging a path toward justice and coexistence.
FAQs
1. What does it mean for the UK, Canada, Portugal, and Australia to recognize Palestine as a state?
The recognition of Palestine as a state by these four nations on September 22, 2025, signifies their formal acknowledgment of Palestine as a sovereign entity, aligning with over 140 UN member states. This grants Palestine the ability to engage in diplomatic relations, negotiate treaties, and enjoy international statehood rights, as outlined by the 1933 Montevideo Convention, which defines statehood by a permanent population, defined territory, effective government, and capacity for international relations. However, Palestine remains a UN “Permanent Observer State,” not a full member, and the recognition is largely symbolic due to undefined borders and ongoing Israeli occupation.
2. Why did these countries choose to recognize Palestine now?
The decisions stem from growing frustration over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, including a military campaign that has killed over 65,200 Palestinians, caused famine, and displaced millions, as well as illegal settlement expansions in the West Bank. Leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need to revive the two-state solution, viewing recognition as a step toward peace and countering Israel’s stated opposition to Palestinian statehood.
3. How has Israel responded to these recognitions?
Israel strongly condemned the recognitions, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling them a “huge reward to terrorism,” referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. He vowed no Palestinian state would be established west of the Jordan River and pledged to double settlements in the West Bank. Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed annexing the West Bank, escalating tensions. Israel views the moves as undermining its security and rewarding Hamas.
4. What is the two-state solution, and why is it significant in this context?
The two-state solution envisions an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel, based on pre-1967 borders. Leaders of the recognizing nations, including Starmer, Carney, Rangel, and Albanese, see it as the only path to lasting peace. The recognitions aim to bolster this vision, countering Israel’s policies and Hamas’s influence, though challenges like the Palestinian Authority’s limited control and Hamas’s rule in Gaza since 2007 complicate implementation.
5. How have Palestinians and the international community reacted?
Palestinians largely welcomed the recognitions. President Mahmoud Abbas said they pave the way for peaceful coexistence, while Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, celebrated them as correcting historical wrongs. Hamas supported the move but called for practical steps to end the Gaza war. Globally, 147 of 193 UN states recognize Palestine, but the US opposes it, and its Security Council veto blocks full UN membership. Domestic pressure in Western nations, driven by Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, is pushing for stronger support for Palestine, with some countries threatening sanctions or boycotts against Israel.
