Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a heated response to the news that the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia had officially recognized the state of Palestine.
“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre on October 7: you are giving a huge reward to terrorism,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “And I have another message for you: it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said they hoped the decision to recognize Palestine would “revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis. Starmer added that the ongoing war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it is causing pushed his government to acknowledge Palestinian statehood.
“The man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths,” Starmer shared on Sunday. “The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable.”
Canada and Australia announced their own recognition at the same time as Starmer. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he hoped his country could help build “the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.” France is expected to make a similar announcement at the United Nations later this week.
