UK, Australia and Canada recognise Palestinian State ahead of UN General Assembly

The UK, Australia and Canada have recognised the Palestinian State in a historic diplomatic shift just days ahead of the UN General Assembly High-level week, set to open on Tuesday. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Sunday that London is formally recognising a Palestinian state despite opposition from the US and Israel.

His announcement follows those from Canada and Australia, in what appears to be a coordinated initiative from the Commonwealth nations.

Starmer, who has faced pressure to adopt a more hardline on Israel within his own governing Labour Party, said the move is intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis".

The British premier stressed that the recognition however is not a reward for Hamas, asserting that the Gaza-based group will have no role in any future governance of the Palestinian people.

“We must channel our efforts, united together in hope, behind the peaceful future that we want to see: the release of the hostages, an end to the violence, an end to the suffering and a shift back towards a two-state solution as the best hope for peace and security for all sides," he said.

Though the move is largely symbolic, it is a historic moment as the UK arguably laid the groundwork for the creation of the Israeli state when it was in control of what was then known as Palestine in 1917.

The Australian move was previewed in August but became official on Sunday in a joint statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

"Australia recognises the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own," the pair said.

"Today's act of recognition reflects Australia's longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian people."

Joining the UK and Australia, Canada intends to "preserve the prospect of a two-state solution," according to a statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney's office released on Sunday morning.

"Over many decades, Canada's commitment to a two-state solution was premised on the expectation that this outcome would eventually be achieved as part of a negotiated settlement."

Carney noted however that this possibility "has been steadily and gravely eroded" by several developments, including the 7 October, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Southern Israel, the Israeli parliament's resolution supporting the annexation of the occupied West Bank and the brutal blockade on the enclave which banned critical food and aid from entering the enclave for months.

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement condemning the UK, Canada and Australia for the “unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.”

Israeli authorities condemned the recognition, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming it destabilises the region and strengthens the militant group.

"Most countries in the world have already recognized a 'Palestinian state' in the past. It was wrong in the past, too," Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, Gideon Sa'ar, said on X.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that he will raise annexing the West Bank at the next cabinet meeting in response to the the recognitions.

“The recognition by the UK, Canada, and Australia of a ‘Palestinian’ state, as a prize for the murderous Nukhba terrorists, requires immediate countermeasures,” said Ben-Gvir.

The far-right Israeli minister also called for “the immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (the biblical name for the regions known collectively as the West Bank) and the complete dismantling of the Palestinian’ Authority.”