Overview

• France, the UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal and several European states announced or confirmed recognition of a Palestinian state during UN meetings, a step many observers described as largely symbolic for now.
• Israeli leaders condemned the recognitions as a reward for terror, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River and officials warning of potential countermeasures.
• President Donald Trump denounced European recognitions as aiding Hamas and said they risk undermining hostage-release and ceasefire efforts, while Hamas welcomed recognition but reiterated it will not disarm.
• Recognizing governments tied their decisions to Palestinian Authority reforms excluding Hamas, demilitarization and elections, as Mahmoud Abbas asserted the PA should govern Gaza.
• In Britain, a YouGov poll found nearly two-thirds of respondents believe recognition will make no difference or worsen the crisis, and press reports highlighted political aftershocks including a reported reparations demand by Abbas and renewed scrutiny of ambassador Husam Zomlot.