On Sunday, 21 September, three countries – the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia – simultaneously announced their official recognition of Palestinian statehood. The respective statements were issued by the prime ministers of these States.
Canada was the first among the G7 countries to take this step. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasised in his address that since 1947 Canadian foreign policy has been based on the idea of creating two states as the only way to a “stable peace” in the Middle East. According to him, Canada has been waiting for decades for such an agreement to become a reality, but this was hindered by the actions of both Israel and Hamas (recognised as a terrorist group in the US and the EU).
Carney recalled the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, stressing that the organisation oppresses the people of Gaza, terrorises Israel and must be completely disarmed and removed from future Palestinian governance. Hamas has robbed its people, deprived them of their lives and freedom, so it cannot determine the future of the Palestinians,” he said.
At the same time, the prime minister criticised the Israeli policy of settlement expansion and military action in Gaza, which has resulted in massive civilian casualties. He summed up: it is under these circumstances that Canada recognises the State of Palestine and is ready to support it in building a peaceful coexistence alongside Israel.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also announced that the United Kingdom recognises Palestine as an independent state. In a video message, he explained that the move aims to restore hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the realisation of the two-state solution. Starmer emphasised that Hamas has no right to participate in Palestine’s future governance or security.
The third state was Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement on social media saying that “the Commonwealth of Australia officially recognises the independent and sovereign state of Palestine.” He said the move is in line with the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations for self-determination and fits in with international efforts to resolve the situation.
His statement said: recognising Palestine is part of a broader peace process that includes a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and the creation of conditions for both states to coexist.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron wants to make a grand diplomatic coup on Monday by gathering several Western countries to recognise the Palestinian state, Politico writes.
Earlier, on September 12, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution in support of the so-called New York Declaration – a statement developed at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia outlining the principles of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East, based on the creation of an independent Palestinian state in which the Hamas group (recognised as a terrorist group in the US and the EU) would not be in power.
Resolutions of the UN General Assembly are not binding, but they are indicative of the balance of power in the World Organisation. The majority of EU countries, the UK, many Arab countries, China, Ukraine and the Russian Federation voted in favour of the resolution. Israel, the US, Hungary, Argentina, and Israel were against. Iran did not vote, and several countries, notably Moldova and the Czech Republic, abstained.
The resolution condemned the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, called for the release of the hostages, and said Hamas should “complete the administration of Gaza and hand over arms to the Palestinian Authority authorities with the support of the international community.”
Israel has expressed disagreement with the document because it envisages as a just end to the conflict the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The official position of the Israeli authorities is that a Palestinian State should not be established, as reiterated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 11 September. The statements of several countries about their intention to recognise Palestinian independence are interpreted by the Israeli authorities as a reward for Hamas militants.
France and several other states were expected to recognise Palestinian independence by the end of September. They stress that the Palestinian state should be demilitarised and live in peace with Israel, and Hamas should not be involved in governance. The war in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in general are expected to be a central theme at the upcoming session of the General Assembly with the participation of many leaders.