Britain, Canada, Australia formally recognize Palestine

Britain, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized the state of Palestine despite opposition from the United States, amid growing public pressure to end their complicity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Several European countries are set to follow suit this week.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that his government formally recognizes the State of Palestine “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution.”

The move comes 108 years after the Balfour Declaration backed “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” paving the way for the illegal establishment of Israel in 1948. 

Canadian PM Mark Carney also wrote on X that his government “recognizes the State of Palestine.”

In addition, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement shortly after formally recognizing “the independent and sovereign State of Palestine.”

A growing number of longtime US and Israel allies have shifted positions, as the Tel Aviv regime has intensified its genocidal war on Gaza, including a major ground offensive on Gaza City.

Portugal confirmed on Saturday that it would recognize the Palestinian state on Sunday. Other countries on the brink of recognition include Belgium, Luxembourg, and New Zealand, which are likely to act either immediately before or at the UN special conference on a two-state solution in New York on Monday.

France is also expected to formally declare its recognition of a Palestinian state on Monday at a United Nations conference in New York.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli television Channel 12 on Saturday that nations “have to recognize the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to have a state.”

He also condemned Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City as “absolutely unacceptable” and “a huge mistake.”

Spain, Norway, and Ireland recognized a state of Palestine last year. The recognition of Palestine as a state reflects a broader shift among US allies, aligning them with more than 140 of the 193 UN member states that have already recognized Palestine as a state.

The move puts the most powerful Western nations at odds with Israel and the United States, with the head of the Israeli regime, Benjamin Netanyahu, reacting angrily and vowing to oppose it at the UN talks.

Netanyahu said on Sunday that calls for a Palestinian state “would endanger our existence and serve as an absurd reward for terrorism.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian foreign minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin thanked countries that have already recognized or are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state.

She said the move will send “a very clear message to the Israelis on their illusions of continuing their occupation forever.”

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