UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal Officially Recognize Palestine

The United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognized Palestine on Sunday, joining more than 140 countries worldwide in supporting Palestinian aspirations for an independent homeland. The move, driven by frustration over the ongoing Gaza war and calls for a two-state solution, drew sharp criticism from Israel.

The decision is especially symbolic for the UK, which played a major role in Israel’s creation after World War II.

“Today, to revive the hope of peace for Palestinians and Israelis, and to push for a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He condemned Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, calling the devastation, famine, and bombardment “utterly intolerable.”

Other countries, including France, are expected to follow at the UN General Assembly in New York. Ahead of the event, Palestinian and Israeli flags were displayed on the Eiffel Tower to signal Paris’ support for recognition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the move. “To those leaders recognizing a Palestinian state after the October 7 massacre, you are giving a huge reward to terrorism,” he said, vowing that no Palestinian state would be established west of the Jordan River.

According to health officials in Gaza, Israel’s offensive has killed more than 65,000 people, mostly civilians, destroyed much of the region, displaced millions, and pushed many into famine.

Palestinian leaders and residents welcomed the recognition. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said it would help build a future where a Palestinian state could exist “side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.” Hamas also welcomed the decision but stressed it must be followed by action to end the war and stop Israel from annexing the West Bank.

Starmer confirmed the UK’s decision in a letter to Abbas, noting Britain’s 1917 pledge supporting a Jewish homeland but also protecting the rights of non-Jewish communities.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said recognition would strengthen those who want peace, clarifying that it was “not a reward for terrorism.” Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Rangel described the step as a core principle of his country’s foreign policy, urging an immediate ceasefire and reaffirming support for a two-state solution.

Public opinion in Western capitals has increasingly turned against Israel’s campaign in Gaza, with growing outrage over the rising death toll and images of starving children. Some Londoners welcomed the move, while others remained cautious, saying peace in the region still required far more work.

The US, Israel’s closest ally, has not yet responded. President Donald Trump has previously opposed recognizing Palestine. Meanwhile, Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced plans to push for annexing parts of the West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 war.