In a move that has sent ripples through international diplomacy, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal have formally recognized the State of Palestine, marking a significant shift in Western policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The coordinated announcements on September 21, 2025, have deepened Israel’s sense of isolation and highlighted mounting frustration with the lack of progress toward a two-state solution amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addressing the nation in a video message, declared, “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 emphasized that the move was not a reward for Hamas, the militant group behind the October 7, 2023, attack that killed some 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 251 others. Instead, he framed recognition as a step toward “reviving hope for peace for the Palestinians and Israelis.”
Starmer’s announcement came despite vocal opposition from both the United States and Israel. The British leader insisted that the decision was rooted in a desire to keep the two-state solution alive, noting, “We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also.”
Shortly after the UK’s declaration, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed similar sentiments. “Canada recognizes 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,” Carney said, as reported by CNN. He was clear that the recognition was not a concession to terrorism: “Recognizing the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. This in no way legitimizes terrorism, nor is it any reward for it.”
Carney also highlighted reforms promised by the Palestinian Authority, including commitments to governance reform, holding general elections in 2026, and ensuring that Hamas “can play no part” in the future Palestinian state. The Canadian leader did not shy away from criticizing Israeli policy, stating, “The Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established.”
Australia joined the chorus, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong issuing a joint statement: “Today’s act of recognition reflects Australia’s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.” The Australian government called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all captives held there, while reiterating that “Hamas must have no role in Palestine.”
Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel confirmed his country’s recognition of Palestine from the United Nations headquarters in New York, describing it as the “realization of a fundamental, constant, and fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy.” France is expected to follow suit at the upcoming UN General Assembly, further underscoring the growing international support for Palestinian statehood.
The response from Israel was swift and unequivocal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the coordinated recognition as a “prize” for Hamas and declared, “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.” Netanyahu, facing both domestic and international pressure, warned of potential unilateral steps, including the annexation of parts of the West Bank—a move that would further escalate tensions with the global community. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the recognition “infuriating and immoral,” arguing that it “cannot be perceived as anything other than encouragement of terrorism.”
On the Palestinian side, reactions were markedly different. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcements, calling the UK’s decision “an important and necessary step towards achieving a just and lasting peace.” Hamas, while hailing the recognition as a “rightful outcome of our people’s struggle,” insisted that the international community must accompany such actions with practical measures to stop what it described as “genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has provided a grim backdrop to these diplomatic developments. According to the Associated Press, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians and displaced much of the population, with famine reported in Gaza City. The United Nations Human Rights Council’s independent experts concluded last week that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza—a charge Israel has firmly rejected as “distorted and false.” Hospitals in Gaza, as reported by CNN, have been overwhelmed by casualties, and the death toll continues to climb as Israeli operations press on in Gaza City and beyond.
The recognition of Palestinian statehood by these Western nations is, for now, largely symbolic. While 147 of the 193 United Nations member states have recognized Palestine, its bid for full UN membership remains blocked by the Security Council, where the United States holds veto power. The US, under President Donald Trump, has maintained its opposition to recognition during the ongoing conflict, arguing that it would serve as a “reward” for Hamas and potentially undermine peace efforts.
This divergence has left the US increasingly isolated, even among its closest allies. As France and other countries prepare to announce their own recognition of Palestine at the General Assembly, the chorus of international voices calling for a two-state solution grows louder. Meanwhile, some European countries, including Germany and Italy, remain opposed to unilateral recognition, insisting that it should come only as part of a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Domestic pressures are also shaping the debate. In the UK, Prime Minister Starmer has faced demands from within his own Labour Party to take a firmer stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in light of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. In Canada and Australia, public demonstrations have called for stronger support for Palestinian rights and an end to the war.
The international fallout from these recognitions has extended beyond diplomatic circles. Several Western countries have imposed or threatened sanctions on Israel over its conduct in Gaza, and some European nations have pledged to boycott the European Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate next year. Israeli politicians, meanwhile, have responded with a mix of defiance and condemnation. Knesset speaker Amir Ohana labeled Britain’s Starmer a “modern-day appeaser,” while far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the immediate annexation of the West Bank and dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
For many observers, the actions of the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal represent an attempt to keep the possibility of a two-state solution alive at a time when it appears increasingly remote. As Olivia O’Sullivan of Chatham House told the Associated Press, “This move has symbolic and historic weight, makes clear the UK’s concerns about the survival of a two-state solution, and is intended to keep that goal relevant and alive.”
With the war in Gaza grinding on, the humanitarian crisis deepening, and diplomatic lines hardening, the recognition of Palestinian statehood by these Western nations may not immediately change realities on the ground. Yet, it signals a profound shift in the international conversation—one that could shape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years to come.