Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia on Sunday announced official recognition of Palestinian statehood in a coordinated move, challenging Israel and putting them at odds with the United States.“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,” Starmer posted on X.At the same time, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also posted on X that Canada has announced recognition of a Palestinian state.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also released a statement confirming recognition of a Palestinian state.The move comes despite strong opposition from the United States and Israel, who have criticised the decision as rewarding Hamas and terrorism. Starmer said the recognition is part of an effort to end the conflict in Gaza and promote lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. UK deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said, “Any decision to recognise a Palestinian state, if that were to take place later on today, does not make a Palestinian state happen overnight.” He added that recognition would help keep the prospect of a two-state solution alive and stressed that identifying the Palestinian people with Hamas was a false narrative.Also read: ‘Need to fight false propaganda’: Netanyahu vows to oppose UN recognition of Palestinian state; warns it could threaten Israel’s survivalThe announcement follows Starmer’s warning in July that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowed UN aid, and took steps toward long-term peace. More than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, but the decisions by the UK and France are significant as both are members of the G7 and the UN Security Council.More than 145 countries already recognise a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe.
UK and Palestine: A historic context
Britain governed Palestine following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I and issued the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which supported a Jewish homeland while promising to protect Palestinian civil and religious rights. Lammy said in July that these rights have largely been neglected and described recognition as correcting “a historical injustice which continues to unfold.” Palestinian head of mission Husam Zomlot echoed this, saying, “The issue today is ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago, in 1917. I think today, the British people should celebrate a day when history is being corrected.”Israel’s government has repeatedly opposed a two-state solution and continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, land intended for a future Palestinian state.Since the October 7, 2023, invasion by Hamas on Israel, more than 60,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
