The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement on its website that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that Portugal will recognize the State of Palestine… and the recognition will be officially announced on Sunday, September 21.” Lisbon had announced last July its intention to take this step in light of the “extremely worrying development of the conflict” and the humanitarian crisis, in addition to “repeated Israeli threats to annex Palestinian lands.” Among the Western countries planning to recognize the State of Palestine during the General Assembly meetings are Britain, Canada, and France, while the Israeli military campaign continues against the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
Israel strongly criticizes these plans, considering that recognition “rewards” Hamas for its attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war in Gaza. However, the worsening humanitarian crisis in the coastal sector, where the United Nations has warned of the risk of starvation in Gaza City, has even pushed some of Israel’s traditional allies to support the recognition of the Palestinian state.
A French presidential advisor to Emmanuel Macron stated earlier on Friday that Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino also plan to recognize the State of Palestine. The United Nations General Assembly, which begins its sessions on Monday in New York, is scheduled to dedicate its upcoming sessions to discussing the “two-state” solution to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
About three-quarters of the United Nations member states, totaling 193 countries, officially recognize the State of Palestine.
