New York: A growing number of countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, officially recognised the State of Palestine over the weekend—making them the first G7 nations to do so—in what is being framed globally as a manoeuvre aimed at marginalising Hamas and reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to a homeland. The move, which follows from a spike in international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, comes just ahead of a special UN conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia intended to revive the two-state solution.
Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel described the recognition as longstanding Portuguese foreign policy and reiterated that Israel must not maintain any control in or outside Gaza. Other nations presently joining the list of the 147 UN member states recognising Palestine include Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Malta, with New Zealand and Liechtenstein expected to follow.
Leaders of these countries have condemned Hamas, called for urgent ceasefires, and emphasised that Israel’s plans for settlement expansion — particularly in the E1 corridor of the West Bank — threaten the viability of peace. Israel has responded harshly to the recognitions. Meanwhile, the US has blocked Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas from speaking in New York, which triggered a strong rebuke from the UN; Abbas will instead address the UN via videolink.
France has proposed additional measures: a reformed, democratically-elected Palestinian Authority replacing Hamas following a ceasefire; a UN-mandated stabilisation force for Gaza; and scaled-up policing with tight oversight. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected many of these proposals.
As pressure mounts, these recognitions are seen not just as symbolic, but as part of a strategy to isolate Israel politically and possibly impose trade or diplomatic sanctions if annexation efforts continue.
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