Canada, France and the United Kingdom intend to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September amid growing pressure for Israel to end the war in Gaza.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said images of starvation in Gaza meant "the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes," and condemned the Israeli government for "allowing a catastrophe to unfold" during the announcement.
His comments followed France and the UK, which also stated their intentions, with conditions including the exit of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, the reform of the Palestinian Authority and demilitarisation of the state.
Israel's foreign ministry said the move "is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages", while repeatedly denying that the population is facing, or succumbing to, starvation.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said United States President Donald Trump also views recognition of the State of Palestine as wrongly "rewarding Hamas".
The three countries join 147 of 193 UN member states that recognise a Palestinian state, as global momentum grows.
Who first recognised a Palestinian state?
The state of Israel was established by the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948 and was admitted as a UN member the following year. It is currently recognised by 165 member states.
In 1988, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally proclaimed an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital during the first intifada (uprising).
He announced the two-state solution as a goal, with independent Israeli and Palestinian states existing side by side.
Algeria, Indonesia and Malaysia were among the first group of countries to recognise the state in 1988, with 82 countries in total — from India, Türkiye, and most of Africa to Eastern Europe — doing so by the end of that year.
Algeria, Indonesia and Malaysia were among the first group of countries to recognise a Palestinian state in 1988, with 82 countries in total doing so by the end of that year. Source: SBS News
The next wave of recognition from a host of South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, came in late 2010 and early 2011, amid political and social turbulence in the region.
The Palestinian bid for full UN membership in 2011 was unsuccessful.
However, in 2012, the UN General Assembly upgraded the status of Palestinians to that of a "non-member observer state", allowing them a seat but not a vote in the assembly.
In April 2024, the US vetoed a resolution that would have paved the way for full UN membership for the State of Palestine.
Countries join revived push for Palestinian statehood in Europe
Sweden broke ranks and became the first Western European country to recognise a Palestinian state in 2014, joining six of 27 EU member states.
The US, UK, Australia and other Western countries have previously insisted that recognition comes as part of a negotiated peace settlement.
As of March 2025, the State of Palestine has been recognised as a sovereign nation by 147 of 193 member states of the United Nations. Source: SBS News
In 2024, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados recognised a Palestinian state.
Later that year, Spain, Norway and Ireland joined efforts in Western Europe, with the hopes that the symbolic move would help work towards a two-state solution.
Where does Australia stand?
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia is working with other countries on recognition, warning there might soon be "no Palestine left".
"We understand the urgency, we also understand the importance of having impact, we are obviously discussing and coordinating these issues with many countries," Wong told Nine's Today show on Tuesday.
"Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states."
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has stated Australia is working with other countries on the Palestinian statehood issue. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
The government has said statehood is a matter of "when, not if", but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been hesitant to set a timeline, saying conditions such as guarantees that the designated terror group Hamas would play no role in the future nation need to be met.
Albanese spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday morning, when he reiterated Australia's commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East that would allow a Palestinian state and Israel to peacefully co-exist.
The Coalition has reiterated its support for a two-state solution, but Liberal MP Julian Leeser said recognition can only come "at the end of a process".
"It's wrong that we're putting recognition on the table at this point because it removes pressure on Hamas, and I think it sends a bad signal to other areas of conflict," he told ABC Radio.
"It's very important that we do nothing that encourages Hamas in its activities."
— With additional reporting by Agence France-Presse and Reuters
