UK, Canada and Australia announce formal recognition of Palestinian state

The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state on Sunday, signalling a major foreign policy shift and a move away from traditional alignment with the United States. UK PM's step aligns it with more than 140 other nations but will irk both Israel and its main ally, the United States.

In a post on his official X account, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution, that means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.”

“To revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly as prime minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom, formally recognises the state of Palestine,” he added.

This announcement follows the UK’s policy shift in July, when it set clear conditions for



recognition, demanding, among other things, a ceasefire, and warned that recognition would be granted if Israel failed to comply.

Back in July, Starmer signalled that the UK would move to recognise a Palestinian state if Israel failed to meet key conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas, allowing increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, ruling out the annexation of the West Bank and committing to a peace process that leads to a two-state solution.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said the wave of recognitions of a Palestinian state this week marked an irreversible step toward preserving the two-state solution and advancing Palestinian independence.

Speaking in Ramallah, Shahin called the moment historic and said, “It is a move bringing us closer to sovereignty and independence. It might not end the war tomorrow, but it's a move forward, which we need to build on and amplify.”