UK, Canada and Australia formally recognise Palestinian statehood

Canada and Australia joined the UK in recognizing a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Britain said on Sunday it was recognising a Palestinian state after Israel failed to meet conditions including a ceasefire in the nearly two-year-old Gaza war.

"Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X.

London's step aligns it with more than 140 other nations but will irk both Israel and its main ally the United States.

The decision carries symbolic weight as Britain played a major role in Israel's creation as a modern nation in the aftermath of World War Two and has long been its ally.

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Canada and Australia also recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday and other countries are expected to do so this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In a move that put Starmer at odds with US President Donald Trump, Britain had issued Israel with an ultimatum in July saying it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza.

Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission in London, called the decision a "long-overdue recognition" that "is not about Palestine, but about Britain's fulfilment of a solemn responsibility".

"It marks an irreversible step towards justice, peace, and the correction of historic wrongs," he added in a statement.

Smoke rises as the 15-storey Mushtaha Tower collapses after being hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City, September 5, 2025. PHOTO: Reuters

Starmer had said in July that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel reached a ceasefire with Hamas militants, let more aid into Gaza, made clear there would be no annexation of the West Bank, and committed to a peace process delivering a two-state solution.

"Since that announcement in July, in fact, with the attack on Qatar, a ceasefire at this point lays in tatters, and the prospects are bleak," Lammy said, noting Israel had also moved forward with a settlement plan.

Starmer has been under pressure from many of his own lawmakers, angry at the rising death toll in Gaza and images of starving children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this month there will never, opens new tab be a Palestinian state and has accused countries that recognise a Palestinian state of rewarding "Hamas's monstrous terrorism

Londoners voiced mixed reactions.

"A whole lot needs to happen and peace needs to come to that region," said 56-year-old charity director Michael Angus. "This is the first step in actually acknowledging that those people have a right to have somewhere to call home."

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Retiree Stephen, who declined to give his last name, said the government "probably means well" but argued the move was misguided: "They are sort of abandoning Israel... and with Hamas, (they) are almost sort of supporting them."

Lammy previously said Britain has a historic responsibility to facilitate a two-state solution, dating back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration which pledged that the creation of a Jewish state would not infringe on Arab rights.

Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli fire, according to medics, at Al-Shifa hospital, in Gaza City, August 28, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS

British troops captured Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire in 1917, and in 1922 the League of Nations awarded Britain an international mandate to administer Palestine during the post-war deal-making that redrew the map of the Middle East.

Canada offers hand for peaceful future

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday announced that his country officially recognized the state of Palestine, pledging partnership to build peace between Palestine and Israel.

"Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel," Carney wrote on the US social media company X ahead of the UN General Assembly.

Carney said Canada's recognition comes "as part of a co-ordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution."

"Since 1947, it has been the policy of every Canadian government to support a two-state solution for lasting peace in the Middle East," he said.

Carney said it is "imperative" that Hamas "release all hostages, fully disarm, and play no role in the future governance of Palestine."

He also criticized Israeli actions, saying the current Israeli government is "working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state."

"It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law," Carney said while underlining Israel's continuing attacks in Gaza.

“With our international partners, Canada supports the development of a credible peace plan, democratic governance and clear security arrangements for Palestine, and the sustained, large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza," he said.

Read More: Gaza City reels as Israel unleashes ground offensive

At least 65,283 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the enclave’s Health Ministry said on Sunday.

The announcement follows Canada's earlier declaration of intent to recognize Palestine during the 80th UN General Assembly session in September 2025.

The UN General Assembly in New York starts on Tuesday and lasts through Sept. 29.

A child reacts surrounded by pots as Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 21, 2025. PHOTO:REUTERS

Canada previously said it "recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination and supports the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic, and territorially contiguous Palestinian state."

Previously, France, Luxembourg, and Malta announced similar plans to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly.

Australia recognized Palestine statehood

Australia on Sunday formally recognized the statehood of Palestine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

“Effective today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognizes the independent and sovereign State of Palestine,” Albanese said in a statement shared on US social media company X.

Albanese said that with this move, Australia “recognizes the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own.”

Canberra’s recognition of Palestine comes alongside the decision of Canada and the United Kingdom, Albanese said, adding that it is part of a “co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution.”

‘Message of hope’ says Palestine

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin calls the recognition of a Palestinian state by several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada, a "message of hope".

Portugal is also expected to make an announcement of recognition, as Israel comes under huge international pressure over the war in Gaza triggered almost two years ago by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

The recognition of an independent state of Palestine comes as Israeli genocidal war in Gaza has killed over 65,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children since Oct. 7, 2023.