UK, Canada and Australia recognize Palestinian state as Netanyahu vows it will not happen
Three allied nations join more than 145 countries in recognizing Palestine, aiming to jump-start a two-state solution despite Israeli opposition and warnings from experts about peace prospects
In a coordinated international move Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia recognized a Palestinian state in a bid to advance a two-state solution and push peace talks with Israel, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the measure.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the step is intended to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and to reaffirm support for a secure Israel. "We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people," Starmer said in a video message posted on X. "Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also. A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future." He stressed that the recognition is not a reward for Hamas, the terror group responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks that killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. Hamas remains the governing body in Gaza, and officials characterized it as a brutal terror organization.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s recognition, posting on X that Canada offers its "partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel." Australia followed with a joint statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, saying that recognizing Palestine is part of a coordinated international effort to build momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023. The statement said Hamas must have no role in Palestine.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 16, 2025.
Knee-jerk international reactions quickly followed. Netanyahu said the move will have no impact on Israel’s stance toward a two-state solution given the current regional realities, insisting, "It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River." He added that Israel would outline its response after a trip to the United States next week, where he plans to meet former President Donald Trump. Trump, in Britain last week, voiced disapproval of the moves to recognize Palestine.
The announcements come as the conflict between Israel and Hamas remains volatile. More than 145 countries already recognize a Palestinian state, including several in Europe, but Israel remains adamant that conditions do not exist for a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel under current governance. About 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive, according to the latest public accounts tied to the October 7, 2023, attacks and the ongoing Gaza crisis.
Despite the risk that recognizing Palestine now could complicate future peace efforts, supporters of the move argue that international recognition could provide leverage for diplomacy and a renewed push toward a ceasefire and hostage release. The three nations emphasized that the move is intended to support a pathway to a negotiated settlement rather than reward militant groups, and they urged all parties to pursue de-escalation and diplomacy. Experts cautioned that recognition alone does not resolve the core disputes or guarantee a future Palestinian state that would meet Israeli security concerns.
The episode underscores a broader, ongoing debate about how to advance a two-state solution in a region where hardline positions harden and political dynamics shift quickly. Officials also noted that the event underscores the role of international partners in shaping the prospects for diplomacy, even as immediate humanitarian and security concerns in Gaza persist. The U.S. administration has signaled support for a renewed diplomatic track, while expressing skepticism about unilateral moves that could complicate talks.
As the regional crisis continues, the commemorated recognition by the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia highlights the fracturing yet interconnected nature of international responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Observers caution that without new confidence-building measures, including a durable ceasefire and a credible process for hostage release, political gestures risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative. The coming weeks will reveal whether the latest gambit translates into renewed momentum toward a lasting peace or simply intensifies arguments over the best path forward.