London, Ottawa and Canberra announced this official recognition of the state of Palestine on Sunday, September 21. This coordinated gesture marks a historic turning point for three traditional allies in Israel, in a context of persistent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and dead end in the peace process.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “the time has come” to recognize the Palestinian state, saying that this decision is a necessary step to save the prospect of a two -state solution. In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, confirmed this recognition, stressing the legitimate law of the Palestinian people to an independent and sovereign state. Canada, by the voice of Prime Minister Mark Carney, said that this decision was part of the desire to build a future of sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
However, the three governments specify that this recognition cannot benefit armed groups and that it must be accompanied by democratic reforms within the Palestinian Authority. They insist on the need for responsible governance, while reaffirming their attachment to the security of Israel.
This announcement comes as violence continues in Gaza and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, jeopardizing any perspective of peaceful regulations. For London, Ottawa and Canberra, it is a strong signal addressed to the international community before the United Nations General Assembly, in order to recall that the coexistence of two states remains the only credible path to peace.
The reactions were not long in: Israel denounced a “premature” decision, while critical voices in the United States believe that it could weaken the negotiations in progress. In the three countries concerned, the political debate promises to be animated, certain parties judging that such recognition should have been conditioned on a final agreement.
Despite its practical limits, this recognition constitutes a diplomatic gesture of major symbolic scope. It could encourage other countries to follow the same path and put the Palestinian issue at the center of international discussions. For many, September 21, 2025 will remain a key date in the history of the Palestinian struggle for sovereignty.
