Overview
- The UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognized Palestine on Sunday, followed Monday by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and Andorra at UN meetings, bringing recognitions to at least 151 of 193 UN members.
- Israel rejects the move as a reward for terror, with Benjamin Netanyahu ruling out statehood and ministers floating annexation, while President Donald Trump told the UN the recognitions reward Hamas and the U.S. would block Security Council action.
- Palestinians rallied in West Bank cities like Ramallah and Tulkarem to celebrate, yet many in Gaza and the West Bank said the step changes little during a war that Gaza’s Health Ministry says has killed at least 65,000 people.
- Recognitions are presented as preserving a two-state pathway conditioned on Palestinian Authority reforms, early elections after a ceasefire, demilitarization and no role for Hamas, with Australia noting commitments from Mahmoud Abbas.
- A YouGov poll reported in Britain found 62% of respondents said recognition would make no real difference or could make an end to the conflict less likely.