At the United Nations General Assembly, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia formally recognized the State of Palestine, joining more than 140 countries that have already extended recognition. The decision reflects a major shift in Western diplomacy and comes amid intensifying conflict and humanitarian strain in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement coincides with the UN’s 80th session, which includes the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, set for September 22.
The move follows sustained diplomatic outreach by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who in his address to the Assembly called on world leaders to uphold the Palestinian right to self-determination. “The time for justice is now,” he declared, pointing to decades of occupation and the recent escalation of violence.
The UK Prime Minister described the recognition as an important step toward “lasting peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.” Canada and Australia issued similar statements, stressing support for a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The decisions also echo earlier European recognitions by Spain, Ireland, and Norway in 2024, and for the UK, come more than a century after the Balfour Declaration.
Israel strongly criticized the announcements, with its Foreign Ministry warning that such steps undermine direct negotiations and risk emboldening militant factions. The United States has not recognized Palestinian statehood but reiterated its call for renewed dialogue.
The recognition drive takes place against the backdrop of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to UN estimates, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities escalated in October 2023, while roughly 60% of the territory’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed. International aid groups have warned of famine conditions, with 2.2 million residents facing acute food insecurity.