London
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The UK, Canada and Australia announced their official recognition of Palestine on Sunday in an attempt to put pressure on Israel as they pressed a campaign in Gaza despite international outrage.
Three – For decades, strong Israeli allies have expressed deep frustration at the lack of progress towards a solution for the two states.
Portugal announced later on Sunday that it officially recognizes the Palestinian state, adding that the two province’s solution is “the only path to just and lasting peace.”
France and several other countries are expected to follow suit at the UN General Assembly this week, deepening Israel’s isolation and conflicting with Israel’s main partner, the United States.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that “there will be no Palestinian state.”
“After the horrifying massacre on October 7, I have a clear message to leaders who recognize the Palestinian state. You are giving the award to fear,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday.
“The response to our latest attempts to enforce a terrorist state on us at the heart of our land will be given after I return from the United States. Wait for that,” Netanyahu added.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog added to the criticism that the move “does not help the Palestinians, do not help free hostages, or helps reach a settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
“This is a sad day for those seeking true peace,” Herzog said in a post in X.
More than 140 other members of the United Nations are already aware of Palestine. Palestine is a number that has grown in the face of increased alarms against Israeli attacks in Gaza.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in the first stage of a series of clearly coordinated announcements on Sunday that he would “provide a partnership to recognize the Palestinian province and build the promise of a peaceful future for both the Palestinian and Israeli states.”
“Palestinian authorities have abandoned the violence, are aware of Israel and are committed to a solution for the two provinces,” a senior Canadian government official told CNN just before the announcement. “We acknowledge the Palestinian state in order to seek peaceful coexistence and empower those who alienate Hamas.”
Carney said in July that his country recognized UNGA’s Palestinian state, eliciting immediate criticism from Israeli officials and the United States, and that President Donald Trump could hurt Canada in trade talks.
An announcement by British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer will successfully make his pledge in July that he will recognize the Palestinian state unless Israel meets certain conditions.
Since Starmer issued his ultimate, Israel has taken control of Gaza city and moved to expand Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, repeating opposition to the two states’ solution. Netanyahu said on Sunday that he “doubled the Jewish reconciliation” in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, adding that he “continues this path.”
“In the face of the growth of fear in the Middle East, we are acting to keep the potential for peace alive,” the star said at the video address. The UK’s Foreign Office Travel Advice webpage was updated on Sunday to reflect a sensible announcement, changing its reference to “Palestine” about “occupied Palestinian territory.”
French President Emmanuel Macron was a major mover in July and is calling for countries to join France to announce their recognition at UNGA.
In an interview with CBS News, which aired on Sunday, Macron confirmed France’s intention to recognize the Palestinian state on Monday, saying that the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza would be a requirement of “for example, the Palestinian embassy.”
Belgium, Luxembourg and San Marino are among other governments that plan to recognize the Palestinian state this week.
Israel vehemently condemned the move, saying that rewarding Hamas for the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks would burn out. Around 1,200 people were killed there, and the other about 250 were taken hostages.
Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health, a territory that does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. More and more international scholars and institutions say that Israel’s war constitutes genocide. This is accusation that the Israeli government has vehemently denied.
Far-right members of the Israeli government responded to Sunday’s announcement by urging Netanyahu to annex the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities President Mahmoud Abbas said the UK’s announcement was “an important and necessary step to achieving just and lasting peace.”
According to Abbas, the move will pave the way for the implementation of solutions for the two states.
Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political office, told CNN that today’s moves by the UK, Canada and Australia are “welcome steps,” but need to involve “practical measures on the ground.”
Dr. Hanan Ashurawi, a leading figure in Palestinian politics, said that several countries’ moves to recognize Palestinian state signals as “changes in the oceans of the world” have many “courses of action to stop genocide and take punitive measures against Israel.
Despite the growing momentum to recognize Palestine, there are obstacles to it being a full UN member.
The path to becoming a full member requires that at least nine of the 15 members of the Security Council vote in favor and none of the five permanent members of the UK, China, France, Russia or the US refuse to vote. If the issue comes before the Security Council, the US is expected to veto.
China and Russia recognized the Palestinian state in 1988, so the United States may soon leave it to the sole permanent security board members that do not recognize the Palestinian state.
Nor does any other country show any indication of recognition of the Palestinian state. Canada and the UK were the first G7 countries to recognize Palestine, but fellow members Japan, Italy and Germany are opposed to the move.
Abeer Salman, Caitlin Danaher, Billy Stockwell and Jonny Hallam of CNN contributed to this report.
