LONDON: On Sunday, Britain and Portugal were anticipated to acknowledge a Palestinian state, prior to an important week at the UN’s assembly where several countries are prepared to follow suit to exert pressure on Israel regarding Gaza.
An increasing number of longstanding Israeli allies have altered their stances in recent months as Israel has ramped up its offensive in Gaza, prompted by Hamas’s unprecedented attack in 2023.
The encircled Palestinian region has experienced immense devastation, loss of life, and food shortages, leading to a significant humanitarian emergency.
Global leaders will convene for a significant discussion at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, where the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue will be a primary focus.
Approximately 10 countries are anticipated to acknowledge a Palestinian state soon, with British media such as the BBC stating that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to reveal the policy change on Sunday — despite strong opposition from Israel.
Starmer stated in July that the UK would officially acknowledge the State of Palestine if Israel failed to make “substantive steps” toward a ceasefire with Hamas by the time the UN General Assembly met.
The Labour leader remarked then that the action would contribute to a genuine peace process, at the peak moment for the two-state solution.
Israel Resisted.
On Friday, Portugal’s foreign ministry announced that it would officially declare its recognition on Sunday.
In July, Lisbon had already declared its intention to proceed, referencing the “extremely worrying progression of the conflict,” the humanitarian crisis, and Israel’s ongoing threats to annex Palestinian territory.
Since that time, Israel has attacked Gaza, a UN-supported hunger watchdog has proclaimed a famine in sections of the area, and the Israeli armed forces have announced they will employ “unmatched force” to seize Gaza City.
France and Canada, along with other Western countries, intend to acknowledge a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN meeting next week.
Israel has strongly opposed the actions and has reportedly threatened to annex the West Bank as a reaction.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed AFP on Friday that the globe “ought not to be deterred by the possibility of retaliation” from Israel.
According to an AFP count of official data, Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war, led to the fatalities of 1,219 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians.
Israel’s response to Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 65,208 individuals, primarily civilians, based on statistics from the Gazan health ministry deemed reliable by the United Nations.
