Palestinian Foreign Minister: Global Recognition Brings Statehood Closer

RAMALLAH – Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin welcomed the formal recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Canada, and Australia, calling it a crucial and irreversible step toward achieving sovereignty and ending decades of occupation.
Speaking to reporters in Ramallah on Sunday, Shahin said the move represents a significant shift in the international community’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Now is the time. Tomorrow is a historic date we need to build on. It’s not the end,” Shahin said. “This brings us closer to sovereignty and independence. It might not end the war tomorrow, but it’s a step forward — one we must amplify.”
The coordinated recognition from the three Western powers comes amid Israel’s nearly two-year-long military campaign in Gaza, which has displaced millions and drawn widespread condemnation. Shahin described the recognitions as a lifeline for the two-state solution — a framework increasingly under threat.
Israeli Rejection and Growing Isolation
The Israeli government harshly criticised the move. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing a West Bank settlement inauguration earlier this month, declared that a Palestinian state “will never exist.” His government continues to expand settlements, including in areas that could sever the northern and southern parts of a future Palestinian state.
Some Israeli ministers dismissed the recognitions as “irrelevant,” insisting that Palestinian statehood must be the result of direct negotiations — something Shahin said Israel has shown no willingness to pursue.
“This recognition is certainly not symbolic,” Shahin said. “It is a practical, tangible, irreversible step that countries must take if they truly want to preserve the two-state solution.”
Global Shifts and UN Momentum
France and Saudi Arabia have spearheaded a renewed diplomatic push for a two-state framework, with several additional recognitions of Palestinian statehood expected this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Still, opposition remains strong from some quarters. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed the recognitions as “a stunt” and “counterproductive.” Meanwhile, Israeli officials have doubled down on settlement expansion and calls for permanent annexation of West Bank territory.
Despite U.S. resistance, Israel has faced growing international isolation. Numerous allies — excluding the U.S. — have condemned its military actions in Gaza, with some imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers accused of inciting violence.
Calls for Accountability
Shahin called on the international community to move beyond political pressure and apply economic measures to hold Israel accountable.
“Today, Gaza burns. Today, Gaza is destroyed. Today in Gaza, people are systematically murdered,” she said, accusing Israel of committing genocide — a charge Israel strongly denies.
Her comments follow a damning report from a United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which last week concluded that Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza. The findings have been echoed by Amnesty International, a global scholars’ group, and two prominent Israeli human rights organizations.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and diplomatic pressure mounts, the recognitions mark a pivotal moment — one that Palestinian leaders hope can catalyze broader international action toward a just and lasting resolution.