· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on France 24 or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal have formally recognised the State of Palestine, marking a major shift in Western foreign policy
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the decision as an effort to "revive the hope of peace" and a two-state solution
• The move has provoked sharp condemnation from Israel and the United States, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that a Palestinian state “will not happen.”
🔭 The context: This recognition comes amid mounting global outrage over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties
• Although more than 145 UN member states already recognise Palestine, major Western powers had previously conditioned recognition on a negotiated peace settlement
• The UK and Canada are now the first G7 nations to formally reverse that stance
• The shift reflects growing public and diplomatic pressure in these countries following two years of escalating violence and humanitarian collapse in the region
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This diplomatic development may reshape international engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and influence broader global governance norms on state recognition
• It could also deepen geopolitical rifts between Western allies, affecting consensus on aid, arms sales, and climate diplomacy
• The move signals a reassertion of human rights and international law as guiding principles in foreign policy, potentially reinvigorating multilateralism amid rising global tensions
⏭️ What's next: France is expected to extend recognition soon, possibly during the UN General Assembly opening in New York
• While symbolic, these recognitions add pressure on Israel to negotiate and could shift the balance in international forums
• Significant obstacles remain, including internal Palestinian political divisions and Israel’s continued settlement expansion in the West Bank
• The U.S. position remains unchanged, and with Netanyahu vowing to prevent Palestinian statehood, tensions are likely to escalate diplomatically and on the ground
💬 One quote: "This recognition shows that the world is finally starting to hear our voice and that in itself is a moral victory," said Salwa Mansour, a displaced Palestinian resident of Gaza
📈 One stat: At least 65,208 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry — a figure the UN deems reliable and which underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis
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