A major diplomatic rift has erupted after the UK, Canada, and Australia formally recognised the State of Palestine, drawing a fierce response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared that “no Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”
The recognition, announced on Monday, comes amid growing global pressure for a two-state solution in the face of the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Portugal is expected to follow suit, adding to the 143 United Nations member states—roughly 75%—that now recognise Palestinian statehood.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the move, insisting it was not a reward for Hamas but an effort to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.” He described the “starvation and devastation in Gaza” as “utterly intolerable.”
However, Netanyahu condemned the decision as “a huge reward to terror,” warning that recognition endangered Israel’s existence and dismissed the prospect of Palestinian sovereignty.
The move has also ignited political tensions in Britain, where Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch branded Starmer’s decision “absolutely disastrous,” arguing it rewards terrorism while hostages remain in Gaza. “Rewarding terrorism with no conditions… does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war,” she said.
The recognition came a day after the UN declared a formal famine in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have left thousands dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported 71 people killed and 304 injured in the past 24 hours alone.
International outrage intensified after reports that an Israeli airstrike hit a Hamas negotiating team in Qatar, further complicating faltering ceasefire talks.
While Palestinians in the West Bank welcomed the recognition as a step toward legitimacy, fears remain that Israel could accelerate annexation in response.
The recognition has deepened divides between Western capitals and Israel, underscoring the urgent but fragile prospects of reviving peace in the region.
