LONDON โ- In a coordinated diplomatic move, theโข Unitedโฃ Kingdom, Australia, โand Canada announced today their โฃrecognition of a Palestinian state,โข escalating โขinternational โคpressure on Israel amid its โongoing conflict withโ Hamas and stalled peace negotiations. the decisions, revealed Tuesday, represent aโข significant shift inโ policy forโค all three nations and a renewed push for a two-state solution.
The recognition comesโฃ as the โคhumanitarian situation โin Gaza deteriorates, with more than 65,000 people reported killed, โand a famine declared โขin Gaza City. It also follows a recent United โขNations Humanโค Rights Council report concluding that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza-a charge โคIsraelโ has vehemently rejected as “distorted and false.” The move is intended โคto reaffirm commitmentโค to a long-term resolution โof the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a goalโค increasingly threatened by expanding Israeli settlements inโค the West Bank, land Palestinians claim for a future state.
The U.K.’s Foreign โคSecretary David Cameron stated the recognition โof Palestinian statehood is “an affirmation of the right of the palestinian people to self-determination.” Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wongโ echoedโค this sentiment, emphasizing the decision was madeโ after careful consideration and isโ in line with โa two-state solution. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mรฉlanie Joly said the recognition is a step towards โฃachieving lasting peace.
The timingโฃ of the announcements is also linked to growing โinternational frustration with Israel’s continued expansionโ of settlements in the West Bank,โ considered illegal under international law by muchโ of the โworld. Oliviaโ O’sullivan, Director of the U.K. in theโ World Program at Chatham House, explained the move “has symbolic and โhistoric weight, makes clear the U.K.’sโค concerns about the survival of a two-state solution, and isโ intendedโ to keep that โฃgoal relevant and alive.”
While the practical implications of โขrecognizing aโ Palestinian state are limited-Palestine does not have full control over its territory-the symbolicโฃ weight is substantial. The international community largelyโค views the creation โคof a Palestinian state alongside โIsrael as the only realistic path to a โฃlasting resolution of โtheโ conflict.
The announcements were made independently by each country, but coordinated toโ maximize impact. Associated Press โขwriters Jill Lawless in London andโ Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.