🌍 Canada, Australia, and UK Recognise Palestinian Statehood

Macron’s Early Call Spurs Global Momentum Toward Two-State Solution

In a landmark diplomatic shift, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have formally recognised the State of Palestine, joining over 150 nations in affirming Palestinian sovereignty. The coordinated announcements come just ahead of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where the two-state solution is once again central to global discussions.

🇫🇷 Macron’s Early Advocacy Paved the Way

While Canada’s announcement was the first formal recognition among G7 nations, French President Emmanuel Macron had publicly called for Palestinian statehood over a month earlier. His early stance, co-hosting a summit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is widely credited with influencing other Western nations—including Canada and several European states—to follow suit.

France, Belgium, and Portugal are expected to formalise their recognitions during the UN summit, further isolating Israel and the United States, which remain opposed to Palestinian statehood.

🇨🇦 Canada Leads G7 Recognition

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was the first among the three to declare recognition, stating:

“Canada recognises 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.”

His statement was swiftly followed by similar declarations from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, both of whom emphasised the urgency of peace and humanitarian responsibility.

🕊️ A Humanitarian Imperative

The recognitions come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A recent UN report concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, with over 65,000 killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. Palestinian Authority leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to democratic reforms and recognition of Israel’s right to exist, while explicitly rejecting any role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state.

🇮🇱 Israeli Backlash and Internal Criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recognitions, calling them “a huge reward to terrorism.” However, opposition leader Yair Lapid blamed Netanyahu’s leadership for the diplomatic fallout:

“A functioning Israeli government could have prevented this. The government that brought upon us the terrible security disaster in our history is now bringing upon us also the most severe diplomatic crisis ever.”

🏛️ UN Summit and the Road Ahead

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa by the US and will attend the summit virtually. Despite this setback, the recognitions have been welcomed by Palestinian officials as a “prerequisite for peace,” not a by-product of it.

Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian stated:

“Believing that there can be peace and security in the region without the materialisation of an independent state of Palestine is a delusion.”

🌐 A Turning Point in Global Diplomacy

With more than three-quarters of UN member states already recognising Palestine, the recent wave of support signals a shift in global priorities—from managing conflict to actively resolving it. For those who support a peaceful, demilitarised Palestinian state and oppose both occupation and extremism, this moment offers cautious optimism and renewed international solidarity.