Australia, Canada, and UK Officially Recognize Palestine Despite U.S.-Israel Opposition
September 21, 2025 – In a major diplomatic development, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have officially recognized the State of Palestine, sparking sharp reactions from Israel and the United States. The move comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Britain, during which he warned that recognition of Palestine would “encourage terrorism and send the wrong message.”
A Landmark Shift
Australia’s Prime Minister’s Office announced that Canberra now formally accepts Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, describing the step as a long-awaited acknowledgment of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed that a two-state solution has been Canada’s consistent policy since 1947. He stressed that peace in the Middle East depends on a sovereign, democratic, and viable Palestinian state existing alongside Israel in security and mutual respect.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the recognition as a way to “revive hopes for peace, ” clarifying that the move was not a reward for Hamas but a historic acknowledgment of the Palestinians’ inherent rights. The UK government emphasized that recognition was included in its election manifesto and cautioned that Israel’s expanding settlements in the West Bank, the Gaza military campaign, and Hamas’s actions were eroding the viability of a two-state solution.
Strong Pushback
The decision was met with fierce opposition from Israel and condemnation from President Trump. According to The Times of Israel, the Forum of Hostages and Missing Families criticized the three countries for recognizing Palestine unconditionally while 48 Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity. The forum argued that any recognition of a Palestinian state must be tied to the immediate release of hostages, calling it a moral and humanitarian obligation.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan of the Democratic Party went further, describing the recognition as “catastrophic” and “extremely harmful” to Israel’s national interests.
Global Implications
This development comes ahead of the United Nations summit in New York scheduled for Monday, where several other countries are expected to announce similar recognition of Palestine. The coordinated stance by three Western powers marks a historic turning point in the long-debated Palestinian statehood issue, despite U.S. and Israeli resistance.