Leaders of the governments of three commonwealth nations -United Kingdom, Canada and Australia –weekend announced their decision to recognize Palestine as legitimate sovereign state; a joint decision that has sparked off angry responses from Israel and the United States of America.

Oracle Intelligence reports that the declarations by the three powerful nations appear to deliver critical objective o f the Hamas terrorist group which invaded Southern Israel on October 7, 2023 and triggered harsh Israeli military campaign designed to rescue its abducted citizens from Gaza city.

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The war triggered by the Hamas assault on Israel has greatly unsettled the entire Middle East region with sporadic spillovers into Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Qatar and Yemen. Total death figures including victims from all the six countries involved in direct battles range between 60,000 and 80,000 people according to estimates from different sources.

The Hamas attack on Israel has also brought out Iran as single destabilizing force in the region. The Islamic republic is blamed for funding and instigating attacks on Israel, leading to direct wave of attacks between the two countries and eventual intervention of the United States in helping Israel disable and degrade Iran’s dreaded nuclear facilities.

On ground in Gaza, Hamas still holds dozens of Israeli hostages most of whom have died in detention; and Israeli military campaign to rescue them have brought Gaza down to ruins, displaced most of its residents, created humanitarian situations and led to thousands of deaths as Hamas operatives continue to use the people as human shields.

In advancing propositions for elusive ceasefire, some European countries have called for two state solution to the Palestinian quandary, a proposal Israel flatly rejects on security grounds, saying that any Palestinian state poses threat to existence of the Israeli nation.

Despite concerns from the United States and Israel, the UK, Canada, and Australia officially announced on Sunday that they would recognize Palestine as a state; marking the first time G7 nations have recognized Palestine as a state.

However, the three countries emphasized that their recognition of Palestine does not endorse Hamas.

Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister, released a statement: “Canada recognizes a state led by the Palestinian Authority.” He added, “This is part of international efforts toward peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, bolstering those who seek the end of Hamas. It is by no means a justification or reward for terrorism.”

Shortly after, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also issued a statement. He stressed, “Palestinian independence is a prerequisite to halting the Gaza war and restoring long-term peace,” and emphasized, “Hamas cannot play any role in the political or security framework of a new state.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a video message approximately seven hours after Carney’s statement: “To revive hope for peace and the ‘two-state solution,’ the UK recognizes Palestine as a state.” He clarified, “This measure is not a reward for Hamas but signifies its complete exclusion from the future,” adding, “I have instructed the cabinet to prepare additional sanctions against Hamas within weeks.” The approval explicitly pertains to the “Palestinian Authority.”

But Israel and the United States are not impressed, and promptly condemned the declarations by the commonwealth nations as “effectively rewards terrorism.”

To date, 150 of the UN’s 193 member states have recognized Palestine as a state. However, no G7 countries—including the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan—had done so previously. This stemmed from viewing the final stage of the peace process, initiated by the 1990s Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as contingent on Palestinian statehood. Considerations also included alignment with U.S. positions and strategic ties with Israel.

Agency sources reported that France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and others are set to join the UK, Canada, and Australia during the UN General Assembly in New York today, noting that Palestinian recognition could spread across Western Europe like a domino effect.

Israel immediately condemned the decision. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a cabinet meeting, “Recognizing Palestine threatens our very existence and absurdly rewards terrorism.” He criticized, “The international community is legitimizing terrorist forces instead of isolating them.” Israeli media forecast severe repercussions for bilateral relations.

The U.S. remains opposed. During a press conference in the UK on the 18th, President Donald Trump said, “I disagree with Prime Minister Starmer on recognizing Palestine as a state.”

The Trump administration maintains that statehood should only follow a peace agreement resolving territorial and security issues through direct Israel-Palestine negotiations. Unilateral recognition by the international community, without such an agreement, could incentivize Palestine to prioritize diplomatic approval over compromise with Israel.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision. Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told Reuters, “This decision opens an irreversible path toward Palestinian independence and sovereignty.” He added, “Recognition by major global powers is a powerful pressure tool against Israel’s hardline policies and will catalyze internal Palestinian unity and institutional reforms.”