UK, Portugal to recognize Palestinian state ahead of UN debate on Sunday

Britain and Portugal were on Sunday expected to recognise a Palestinian state, ahead of a key week at the UN's gathering where a suite of nations are set to do the same to pressure ‘Israel’ over Gaza.

A growing number of longtime ‘Israeli’ allies have shifted positions in recent months as ‘Israel’ has intensified its Gaza offensive.

The besieged Palestinian territory has suffered vast destruction, death and lack of food that have resulted in a major humanitarian crisis.

World leaders will gather for a key debate at the UN General Assembly in New York this week where the two-state solution to the ‘Israeli’-Palestinian conflict will be front and centre.

Around 10 nations are expected to recognise a Palestinian state in the coming days, with UK media outlets like the BBC, reporting that Prime Minister Keir Starmer would announce the policy shift on Sunday -- over fierce ‘Israeli’ objection.

Starmer had said in July that Britain would formally recognise the State of Palestine if ‘Israel’ did not take "substantive steps" towards a ceasefire with Hamas by the time the UN General Assembly convened.

The Labour leader said at the time that the move would make "a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution".

In response, ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused him of rewarding "monstrous terrorism" and appeasing "jihadist" ideology.

‘Israel’ opposed

Portugal's foreign ministry said on Friday that it would also formally declare its recognition on Sunday.

Lisbon had already announced in July that it intended to do so, citing the "extremely worrying evolution of the conflict" as well as the humanitarian crisis and ‘Israel's’ repeated threats to annex Palestinian land.

Since then, ‘Israel’ has bombarded Gaza, a UN-backed hunger monitor has declared a famine in part of the territory and the ‘Israeli’ military has said it will use "unprecedented force" to capture Gaza City.

France and Canada are among the other Western nations planning to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN gathering in the coming week.

‘Israel’ has vehemently opposed the moves and has reportedly threatened to annex the West Bank in response.