TEHRAN – The recognition of Palestine as an independent state by several other Western countries marks a significant milestone, underscoring the enduring resilience and steadfast resistance of the Palestinian people amid ongoing Israeli brutality. However, this diplomatic shift appears driven less by genuine humanitarian concern and more by mounting domestic and international pressure.

On Sunday, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom formally recognized Palestine as a sovereign and independent state.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on X, “Effective today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognizes the independent and sovereign State of Palestine.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney similarly announced that Canada now recognizes the state of Palestine in line with the so-called two-state solution.

These moves were coordinated with the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that his country would formally recognize Palestine shortly afterward. He expressed that such recognition would “revive hope for peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution.”

Political and public pressure

Despite these announcements, the recognition by these Western powers appears as much a response to escalating public anger and protests over their perceived complicity in Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. President Donald Trump openly disagreed with the recognition during his recent state visit to Britain, underscoring the contentious and divided nature of international responses.

The UK’s shift toward recognizing Palestine came after it signaled in July a tentative willingness to abandon its longstanding wait-and-see approach—contingent on Israel ending its war in Gaza, committing to peace, and allowing increased humanitarian aid. Yet, conditions in Gaza have only deteriorated since, with Israel intensifying its military campaign and deepening the humanitarian crisis. The West Bank has also seen a spike in deadly violence, exacerbating the conflict.

Historical context and complicity

The UK's formal recognition of Palestine comes more than a century after the Balfour Declaration of 1917—which promised a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. That declaration is widely regarded as a key factor in the ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinians in 1948, known as the Nakba, and adds a heavy historical irony to this development.

Britain’s facilitation of Zionists’ immigration during World Wars I and II and the country's ongoing military support for Israel have implicated it in the devastating war on Gaza, which has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023. Despite mounting evidence from international organizations and UN inquiries suggesting genocide is being committed in Gaza, the British government has continued to arm and fund Israel throughout this nearly two-year conflict.

International pressure spurs action

Sunday’s recognition of Palestine is part of a broader and internationally coordinated effort.

The number of countries recognizing Palestine is expected to surpass 150 by the end of next week, at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. France plans to recognize the State of Palestine on Monday.

The UK’s move is promising but clearly driven by rising protests and public anger over its support for Israel. Fears of international court rulings against Britain’s involvement in the Israeli war crimes likely contributed to this policy shift. Similarly, Canada and Australia—longtime staunch supporters of Israel—appear to have been pushed to this recognition amid growing domestic dissent and anti-Israel protests, a dynamic also playing out in France, a key Western ally of Israel experiencing rising anti-Israel protests in its cities.

Other European nations such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway have already made similar moves in light of the Gaza war. 

Once France finalizes its recognition, the United States will stand as the only permanent member of the UN Security Council refusing to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty. 

Germany remains resistant, citing unmet conditions for recognition.

Symbolism vs. substance

In the short term, this wave of recognition may be largely symbolic. All Palestinian territories remain under deadly Israeli military occupation, with Israel continuing to justify its devastating campaign in Gaza as “self-defense.” This has resulted in immense death and destruction, exacerbating a humanitarian catastrophe.

While these recognitions could mark the beginning of a new chapter in international diplomacy regarding Palestine, without sustained pressure to end Israel's war and lift the siege on Gaza—where people face starvation and a genocidal threat—the gesture risks being remembered as little more than a symbolic charm offensive.

Nonetheless, this recognition demonstrates how the persistent strength and determined resistance of the Palestinian people have compelled even traditional Western allies of Israel to produce meaningful diplomatic outcomes, despite ongoing Israeli oppression.