The war in Gaza has been going for over 22 months now, resulting in the deaths of around 65,000 civilians. Last week, independent experts commissioned by the UN’s Human Rights Council announced that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a charge that Israel rejected as “distorted and false.”
Now, in another move much to the angst of Israel, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognized the State of Palestine (September 21, 2025), in a coordinated diplomatic move. Their decision, coming amid the Gaza war and mounting global outrage over civilian casualties, aligned them with more than 140 other nations that already back Palestinian statehood.
Crucially, these are four countries traditionally aligned with Israel, marking a symbolic departure from decades of Western hesitancy.
What makes Britain’s recognition of Palestinian state symbolic?
Britain’s recognition carried deep historical weight. As the former mandate power in Palestine after World War I, London played a pivotal role in the creation of Israel in 1948. Now, Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the decision as an attempt to “revive hope” in a two-state solution.
Announcing the decision, he cited Israel’s “relentless bombardment” of Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis as intolerable. “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,” he posted on X.
UK recognizes Palestinian state: How has Israel reacted?
Just as anyone would have thought of, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision as a “reward for terrorism,” linking it to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Netanyahu reiterated that “a Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Meanwhile, far-right Israeli ministers have renewed calls for annexing more of the occupied West Bank, escalating tensions further.
What impact does this have on the two-state debate?
The recognition is seen by many as an attempt to reset momentum toward a two-state solution, even as realities on the ground, continued war in Gaza, Hamas control in the strip, Israeli settlement expansion, cast doubt on its feasibility.
Needless to say, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed the step as paving the way for coexistence, while Hamas stressed that recognition must be followed by “practical measures” to end Israel’s military campaign and prevent West Bank annexation.
Starmer, along with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, faced growing pressure from within their parties and societies over Gaza’s staggering civilian death toll, over 65,000 killed, according to local health authorities. Images of famine and devastation fueled grassroots anger, compelling governments to act.
Leaders insisted their recognition was about peace, not “rewarding Hamas.”
What role might the US and France play next?
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has so far refrained from endorsing Palestinian statehood. President Donald Trump remains firmly opposed. France, however, is expected to follow suit at the UN General Assembly in New York, potentially adding further weight to the shift.
Should more Western allies recognize Palestine, Washington may find itself increasingly isolated in opposing such recognition.
Can it be viewed as a shift in Middle East geopolitics?
The move underscores how the Gaza war has reshaped global alignments. Western capitals, once cautious about alienating Israel, are now recalibrating under public pressure and geopolitical realities. For Palestinians, the recognition boosts international legitimacy, while for Israel, it signals growing diplomatic isolation.