On September 21, 2025, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, marking a significant shift in their long-standing diplomatic positions. This coordinated move, with France expected to follow at the United Nations, reflects growing international concern over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. These nations, key supporters of Israel and members of the Group of Seven, broke with the US, which has historically opposed recognizing Palestinian statehood without a permanent resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The announcements, made just before Rosh Hashanah, signal a response to mounting public and political pressure, particularly in the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced calls from his Labour Party and widespread pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Starmer had pledged in July to recognize Palestine unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas, committed to a two-state solution, and ruled out annexing the West Bank, conditions Israel did not meet. Instead, Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza and launched attacks in Doha, Qatar, complicating ceasefire talks. The decision follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and displaced tens of thousands. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 65,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials, fueling global outrage and prompting this diplomatic shift.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly condemned the recognitions, calling them a “reward for terror” and vowing that a Palestinian state “will not happen.” The US, aligned with Israel, blocked a UN Security Council resolution for a Gaza ceasefire, citing insufficient condemnation of Hamas. Despite this, over 140 countries now recognize Palestinian statehood, and the Palestinian Authority holds nonmember observer status at the UN since 2012. Analysts, such as Yossi Mekelberg from Chatham House, argue that while symbolic, these recognitions may not immediately alter Israel’s policies without further actions like sanctions or restricted arms sales. However, the move elevates Palestine’s status globally, framing the conflict as one state occupying another, a perspective echoed by Palestinian human rights lawyer Diana Buttu.
The recognition of Palestine by the UK recognition carries particular weight due to its historical role in the region. The 1917 Balfour Declaration supported a Jewish homeland in the British Mandate territories, and laws from that period still underpin Israel’s detention policies. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and former spokesperson for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) described the UK’s recognition as “powerful” but insufficient given Gaza’s devastation. The Palestinian mission in London plans to mark the occasion with a flag-raising ceremony, symbolizing its new status as an embassy. Hamas welcomed the recognitions but urged “practical measures” to halt Israel’s actions in Gaza and prevent West Bank annexation. UK Prime Minsiter Kier Starmer, rejecting claims that the move rewards Hamas, emphasized that a two-state solution opposes the group’s ideology and condemned it as a terrorist organization unfit for governance.
While these recognitions do not grant Palestine full UN membership, due to likely US vetoes in the Security Council, they signal a growing international consensus. For Palestinians, the move clarifies their sovereignty but underscores the urgent need for concrete steps to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and advance a sustainable resolution.
