“The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established,” said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law.”
BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) — Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal on Sunday formally recognized Palestinian statehood to push for a “two-state solution,” as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive and annexation in Gaza despite mounting international condemnation.
With France expected to follow suit at the upcoming UN General Assembly, the move sparked a furious backlash from Israel. It also marked a sharp break with the United States, which had voiced opposition to such recognition.
LINE EXPANDS FOR RECOGNITION
In a video statement on X, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the country “formally recognizes the State of Palestine” to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution.”
“The man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths,” Starmer said. “The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation, and devastation, are utterly intolerable.”
“This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end,” he noted.
Acknowledging that hope for a two-state solution was fading, Starmer insisted that “we must not let that light go out.”
The British announcement came an hour after Canada formally recognized a Palestinian state.
Earlier Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement, saying, “Canada recognizes 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.”
“The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established,” Carney said. “It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law.”
Also joining Canada were Australia and Portugal.
While Australia said its recognition of Palestine is part of a “co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution,” Portugal said such a solution “is the only path to peace.”
In response, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said recognition would help pave the way for the “State of Palestine to live side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighbourliness.”
Meanwhile, Hamas also welcomed the move. Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political office, told CNN on Sunday that “any step to strengthen the legitimate Palestinian rights, foremost among them the fully sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem and the right to self-determination, is a welcomed step.”
“IT WILL NOT HAPPEN”
Israel lashed out at its allies’ successive recognition of Palestine.
“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
At Sunday’s weekly government meeting, Netanyahu said support for Palestinian statehood “will endanger our existence and constitute an absurd prize for terrorism.” He added that Israel will fight at the United Nations and other international organizations “against the slanderous propaganda aimed at us.”
Regarding the annexation of the West Bank, Netanyahu said Israel has doubled Jewish settlements in the enclave and “will continue on this path.”
Scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday before visiting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Netanyahu said he would announce Israel’s response “to the latest attempt to force a terror state upon us in the heart of our land” after the trip.
CNN said in a Sunday report that Netanyahu has few options for how Israel would respond without Trump’s backing.
“But with that backing — which Netanyahu is clearly signaling he has — the Israeli leader feels he can do just about anything, under a blanket of U.S. diplomatic protection,” it said.
Meanwhile, the country’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Sunday that the “only response” is annexation of the entire West Bank and “removing the foolish idea of a Palestinian state from the agenda once and for all.”
Earlier this month, Smotrich unveiled a map outlining his vision to annex 82 percent of the West Bank.
In August, Smotrich sparked international outrage by saying it could be “justified and moral” to starve 2 million people in Gaza to free the hostages, prompting the EU to request the Israeli government to “unequivocally distance itself” from Smotrich’s remarks.
INCREASINGLY ISOLATED U.S.
Two years into the conflict, the Trump administration finds itself increasingly isolated over the Gaza issue.
While more countries have denounced Israel’s aggression in Gaza, the United States has stood firmly by its ally, providing both political cover and military support.
Trump has yet to respond to Sunday’s developments, but he voiced his disapproval of recognizing Palestinian statehood during a visit to Britain last week.
At a press conference with Starmer on Thursday, Trump said he disagrees with Starmer “on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.”
The Trump administration has been scolding its allies for supporting Palestine since they declared in July that they would recognize its statehood if a ceasefire is not reached.
“The president expressed his displeasure and his disagreement with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the time. “He feels as though that’s rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages.”
Trump even warned Carney that Canada’s recognition of Palestine as a state will “make it very hard” for future trade negotiations between the two neighbors.
On Thursday, Washington once again vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council, blocking a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, along with the release of hostages and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian access and delivery in the enclave.
With all 14 other council members voting in favor, the U.S. representative claimed that the draft “fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said China is deeply disappointed at the result of the vote.
He noted that the Gaza conflict has dragged on for almost two years, creating an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Despite repeated efforts by the Security Council to take action, each attempt was blocked by the United States.
Echoing Fu’s remarks, British UN ambassador Barbara Woodward expressed regret that the Security Council had failed to reach consensus on the draft resolution.
“We need a ceasefire more than ever. And yet Israel’s reckless expansion of its military operation takes us further away from a deal which could bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza,” she said.
“We are witnessing an entirely man-made famine in Gaza and images of starving Palestinians killed, while desperately seeking scraps of food for their families,” she said. “We urge Israel’s government to end the bloodshed, which has already cost the lives of 65,000 Palestinians, and to immediately lift its restrictions on the entry of aid and allow the UN and humanitarian agencies to save lives.”■
