Portugal on Sunday joined Britain, Canada, and Australia in formally recognising the state of Palestine, a move that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed.
Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Paulo Rangel, made the announcement in New York.
“The recognition of the state of Palestine is the realisation of a fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy,” he said.
Rangel stressed that Portugal supports a two-state solution as the only way to secure lasting peace. He also demanded an urgent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and warned that Hamas must not control Gaza.
Rangel added that recognition does not ignore the suffering in Gaza.
“It does not erase the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We condemn the starvation, the destruction, and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank,” he said.
The decision by the four countries comes as Israel faces growing international pressure over the nearly two-year war in Gaza, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Britain and Canada became the first G7 countries to back Palestinian statehood, while France and others are expected to follow at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X, “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also wrote on X, “Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
The decision marks a major shift, as Western powers had long insisted that Palestinian statehood should come only through a negotiated peace deal with Israel.
But Netanyahu condemned the move, saying it rewarded terrorism.
“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7: You are giving a huge reward to terrorism. It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River,” he said.
Public pressure has been mounting in the UK, where thousands have rallied monthly in support of Palestinian statehood. A recent YouGov poll showed that two-thirds of young Britons aged 18 to 25 supported the move.
Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, had earlier admitted at the UN that the UK bears a “special responsibility” to back a two-state solution because of its historical role in the region.
The Gaza war has left tens of thousands dead, destroyed entire neighbourhoods, and triggered a severe food crisis, sparking widespread calls for peace and accountability.