Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant development with far-reaching implications for Middle East diplomacy, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have officially recognized the State of Palestine, breaking with long-standing hesitations and joining a growing list of countries advocating for a two-state solution amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The announcement came on Sunday in synchronized declarations from the three nations, despite firm opposition from Israel, which has been engaged in a prolonged war in Gaza for nearly two years.
UK Takes the Lead with Landmark Declaration
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered the UK’s official recognition in a live address, emphasizing that the move aims to rekindle hope for peace and bring new momentum to the two-state solution. “Today, in the interest of reviving hope for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, the United Kingdom officially recognizes the State of Palestine,” Starmer said. He also underscored that Hamas must play no role in governing the Gaza Strip.
Starmer had previously signaled this move in July, warning that if Israel failed to take significant steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the UK would act. At the time, he called for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered access for humanitarian aid, and a clear commitment from Israel to halt any future annexation of West Bank territory.
During his Sunday address, Starmer stated the situation in Gaza had become “intolerable,” citing the escalation of Israeli ground operations and worsening humanitarian conditions. He reiterated that recognizing Palestine is not just symbolic, but a “practical step toward unifying the region’s peoples under a vision of peace.”
Coordinated Recognition by Australia and Canada
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, confirmed that Australia too now formally recognizes the State of Palestine. The statement framed the decision as part of a broader international effort to reinvigorate the two-state solution, a process that must begin, they argued, with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all detainees.
Like the UK, Australia stressed that Hamas should be excluded from any future Palestinian governance structure.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his country’s recognition in a statement calling for a peaceful future for both Israel and Palestine. “Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and stands ready to partner in building a promising future for both Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” Carney said.
He echoed his counterparts in insisting that Hamas must disarm and take no part in the governance of the future Palestinian state. The decision, he added, is part of a coordinated international push to make the two-state solution a reality.
A Global Momentum for Palestinian Recognition
With this diplomatic shift, the UK, Australia, and Canada join more than 140 UN member states that have already recognized Palestine. Momentum continues to grow, as France, Belgium, and other European nations have signaled their intention to follow suit during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Palestinian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Varsin Aghabekian Shahin described the recognitions as “irreversible steps” that bolster the legitimacy of Palestinian sovereignty. “This may not end the war in Gaza tomorrow, but it’s a step forward one we must build upon,” she told Reuters.
Saudi-French Leadership and the New York Conference
The coordinated recognitions come ahead of a high-level conference on the two-state solution, set to take place in New York and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. Both nations have been at the forefront of recent diplomatic efforts to advance Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Carney is expected to address the conference, which may mark a turning point in international consensus.
While the UK’s decision was expected especially after Israel failed to meet the conditions set by Starmer in July British officials reportedly delayed the announcement until after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent state visit, avoiding a potential diplomatic rift. Trump, although critical of the decision, did not ask the UK to reverse course, merely acknowledging a “difference of opinion.”
In the background, intense consultations have taken place between Canada, the U.S., and other allies. A senior Canadian official said Ottawa had been in “deep coordination” with Washington in recent weeks to ensure mutual understanding of the move’s implications and goals.
A Long Road to a Two-State Reality
The two-state solution has its roots in the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution that proposed dividing British Mandate Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Decades of conflict followed, with intermittent peace efforts, notably the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, which led to mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself once supported the idea in principle, stating in a 2009 speech and later in the U.S. Congress in 2011 that a Palestinian state should be “large enough to be viable, independent, and prosperous.”
However, in recent years, Israel’s government has drifted significantly to the right, expanding settlement activity in the West Bank and rejecting Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem. A Bloomberg report published Sunday noted that Israel has increasingly distanced itself from the two-state framework over the past 12 years, citing Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and intensifying political polarization.
A Diplomatic Shift With Complex Stakes
The recognitions by the UK, Australia, and Canada represent a bold and coordinated step toward rebalancing international diplomacy around the Palestinian issue. While not without controversy, particularly in the U.S. and Israel, these decisions send a powerful message about the urgency of peace and the legitimacy of Palestinian statehood.
Whether they lead to renewed negotiations or further geopolitical tension remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the global conversation on Palestine has shifted and with it, the stakes for the future of the Middle East.
