Partially symbolic movement of up to 10 states occurs amid fears that Israel can respond by attaching parts of the West Bank
A wave of Israel’s allies is announcing their recognition of the state of Palestine, as part of a broader maneuver designed to ostracize Hamas and challenge Israeli government attempts to erase the chance of a Palestinian homeland.
United Kingdom, Canada and Australia formally declared recognition of the Palestinian State on Sunday, in separate but coordinated statements. The measure marks the first members of G7’s advanced economies to take this measure.
Portugal also announced his decision on Sunday night. Paulo Rangel, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “The recognition of the state of Palestine is the realization of a fundamental, constant and fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy.
“Portugal defends the solution of both states as the only way to just and lasting peace … A ceasefire is urgent.”
He added that Hamas “cannot have any form of control in Gaza or outside” and required the release of all hostages.
Other countries that also joined the list of 147 UN states that recognize Palestine are Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Malta and possibly New Zealand and Liechtenstein. Other nations should make their formal announcement on Monday at a special UN conference to revive the decaying cause of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Some, including the United Kingdom, anticipated their statement with respect to the Jewish New Year.
The conference is co -awarded by France and Saudi Arabia, but Saudi heir prince Mohammed Bin Salman will not attend, unlike the French President Emmanuel Macron.
On Sunday, a US Department spokesman described the Palestine recognition initiative as “performative”. “Our focus is still on serious diplomacy, not performing gestures. Our priorities are clear: the liberation of hostages, Israel’s security and peace and prosperity throughout the region, which is only possible without Hamas,” said the spokesman, according to Agence France-Presse.
The delicate and partially symbolic action of about 10 states, led largely by the French government, has the potential to lead to a negative spiral of new confrontations in the midst of fears that Israel will respond by attaching parts of the West Bank, which will lead to European commercial sanctions and greater political insulation to Israel, including a possible UN suspension.
The Israeli answer is also related to the possibility of the US supporting a new attack on Iran in the coming weeks because of its nuclear program.
“Canada recognizes the state of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future,” wrote Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in X.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Canberra’s decision “recognizes the legitimate and ancient aspirations of the people of Palestine for their own state.”
British Prime Minister Keir Strmer said: “Given the growing horrors in the Middle East, we are acting to keep the possibility of peace and a solution of two states. This means a safe and protected Israel, along with a viable Palestinian state. We currently have none of both.”
Declarations with various attached conditions and emphasis on reflecting conflicting internal pressures on governments, which face a reaction from Israel and hostage families that claim that the measure effectively rewards Hamas for his attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, asked states not to be intimidated by Israel’s threats to attach parts of the West Bank.
But ministers admit that decisions were triggered by the growing global horror to Israel’s strategy in Gaza and, specifically, to Israel’s plans to approve new settlements in the part of the Sommonium known as the E1 corridor, which would cut the territory into two and cut their ties with Eastern Jerusalem.
At the center of the French plan, now fully endorsed by the Arab states, it is making recognition part of a broader process, including a reformed and democratically elected Palestinian authority that, in the case of a ceasefire, replaces a disarmed and dismantled Hamas in Gaza.
Germany, Italy, and some Baltic countries are the biggest recognition resistant, but the pressure is increasing within the Italian coalition government to risk the wrath of the US.
Macron, identified by Israel as the galvanizing force behind the increase in recognition, went to Israel’s channel 12 to warn that “the approach of his government and some ministers in particular is to destroy the possibility of a solution of two states.”
He said that “an emergency was created” for the construction of new major settlements, which means that the world “is in the last minute before it proposes two states becomes totally impossible.” He insisted that recognition was not a reward for Hamas, as the terrorist group wanted an Islamic state and the destruction of Israel, something that a two -state solution would prevent.
The US and Israel have boycotted meetings preceding Monday’s UN conference on a two-state solution. At the heart of the divergence is the Israeli belief that the Palestinian Authority (AP), led by 86 -year -old President Mahmoud Abbas, can never be a reliable partner for peace.
The US State Department tried to prevent Abbas from speaking from the UN Tribune in New York, denying American visas to the Palestinian Authority, a measure that triggered a 145-5 vote at the UN General Assembly to allow him to speak by video conferencing. His speech will be monitored to verify whether he details the reform commitments he has previously made with Macron or simply denounces what he considers a genocide of Israel in Gaza.
Visa prohibition is widely seen as a clear violation of long -term immunities in UN and the US.
Western ministers recognize that the main weakness of their plan for the future of a Palestinian state, besides the lack of Israeli support, is the uncertainty about their influence on the reform of AP and the disarmament of Hamas.
But the French argue that the measure has already resulted in abbas concessions of the disorder and their denunciation of the October 7 attack as a terrorist act.
Macron states that the plan for the future includes the sending of UN -mandated international force to protect Gaza and accelerate and expand police training, with clear verification by Israel.
His proposals were fully rejected by Netanyahu.
Macron offered to visit Israel to explain French thinking, but Netanyahu said he first would have to abandon the recognition proposal. This led the French President to alert Netanyahu that the current attack on the city of Gaza would not reach his goal and only mining Israel’s position.
He warned that “the last Israeli operation was causing so many casualties and civilians that you are completely destroying Israel’s image and credibility, not just in the region, but in public opinion everywhere.”
He said the risk was that “Hamas would become the reason never to disagree with his Prime Minister and his ministers, even when they decided crazy things. I agree with the Israeli government [quando] He says the answer is to decide on new settlements in the West Bank or move populations in Gaza. ”
In an attempt to keep AP’s reform agenda alive, along with Saudi Arabia, Norway and Spain, is trying to prevent Israeli attempts from leading AP to bankruptcy, retaining billions of dollars due to the Ministry of Finance of Israel. The quartet is mobilizing countries around an emergency aid package to avoid the collapse of AP. The goal is to raise more than $ 200 million in the next six months.
A new attachment of the West Bank will put special pressure on the United Arab Emirates, who led the movements to normalize relations with Israel through Abraham’s agreements in 2020. The agreements are seen as one of the few achievements of the first Trump government. The United Arab Emirates stated that the annexation is a red line that would end the perspective of regional integration and also protested against Israeli bombardment by Qatar earlier this month.
Originally published by The Guardian on 9/21/2025
By Patrick Wintour – Diplomatic Editor in New York
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/09/22/reino-unido-canada-e-australia-anunciam-reconhecimento-formal-da-palestina-seguido-por-uma-onda-de-aliados-de-israel/
