"Courageous decisions" Britain, Canada, and Australia announce their recognition of the State of Palestine

Britain, Canada, and Australia announced their recognition of the State of Palestine on Sunday, while the Palestinian Authority welcomed the recognition, describing it as courageous.

This came in official statements issued by the concerned countries, which had previously confirmed their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, coinciding with the launch of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom officially recognizes the State of Palestine, despite strong opposition from the United States and Israel.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Starmer said that this step is part of a process to end the conflict in Gaza and help promote a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Canada

For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Sunday that his country now recognizes the State of Palestine, in an effort to bolster the efforts of those seeking peaceful coexistence .

 "Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers its partnership in building a peaceful and promising future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel," Carney said in a statement.

 Carney added, "Recognizing the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, strengthens the efforts of those seeking peaceful coexistence and ending Hamas rule. This neither legitimizes nor rewards terrorism," he said, adding that the Palestinian Authority has made "direct commitments."

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wang today, Sunday , that his country officially recognized the State of Palestine.

Albanese stated that Australia, along with Canada and Britain, recognizes Palestine as part of an effort to revive momentum for the two-state solution, starting with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held there.

British Deputy Prime Minister: Recognizing the State of Palestine does not mean its immediate establishment. Starmer will decide his position today.

Settlers assault Palestinians and steal their property, while the occupation continues its raids and closes the Karameh crossing.

Settlers assault Palestinians and steal their property, while the occupation continues its raids and closes the Karameh crossing.

A new wave of ships to break the blockade on Gaza will set sail next Wednesday from southern Italy.

A new wave of ships to break the blockade on Gaza will set sail next Wednesday from southern Italy.

 With this move, the three countries joined more than 140 UN member states that have recognized the State of Palestine, a shift from their long-standing policy despite strong opposition from Israel.

Palestine welcomes

For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the countries that recognized the State of Palestine, considering them courageous decisions that are consistent with international law and international legitimacy resolutions and stem from these countries' commitment to ending the occupation and achieving peace, ensuring security, stability, and prosperity for the region and the world.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed in a statement "the readiness and willingness of the State of Palestine and its legitimate government to begin building the strongest and most sincere relations with these countries at all levels."

She explained that states' recognition of the State of Palestine is a recognition of the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, ensuring the protection of the two-state solution from the dangers threatening it due to the ongoing crimes of genocide, starvation, displacement, and annexation perpetrated by the occupation authorities against the Palestinian people. 

The Foreign Ministry called on "countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine, primarily the United States, to initiate such recognition, adhere to international law and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, and stand on the right side of history."

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 65,283 martyrs and 166,575 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.

In parallel with the genocide in Gaza, the Israeli occupation army and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, killed at least 1,042 Palestinians, injured approximately 10,160, and arrested more than 19,000, according to official Palestinian data.

For decades, Israel has occupied Palestine and territories in Syria and Lebanon, refusing to withdraw from these territories and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the pre-1967 borders.