UK, Canada, Australia Formally Recognise Palestinian State Despite US, Israel Opposition

In a historic move, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia on Sunday, September 21, formally recognised a Palestinian state, a coordinated step by the three Commonwealth nations despite opposition from the United States (US) and Israel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision on X, noting he had signalled it in late July as Western frustration grew over the war in Gaza.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move is intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis,” stressing it is not a reward for Hamas, which he said will have no role in any future governance of the Palestinian people.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, called the recognition part of a broader international effort to advance a two-state solution that begins with a Gaza ceasefire and the release of captives, while emphasising that Hamas must have “no role in Palestine.”

The timing comes ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, where other nations, including France, are also expected to follow. The formal recognition by Western countries has angered Israel and the United States, which say it emboldens extremists and rewards Hamas, the group that led the October 7, 2023, attacks into southern Israel that triggered the war.

More than 145 countries already recognise a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe. India is among the early countries to recognise the state of Palestine since the 1980s as part of its policy supporting a two-state solution for the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that recognition of a Palestinian state “rewards terror”, with US President Donald Trump opposed to the move and demanding all the hostages be released by Hamas before any further action in the region.