LONDON − The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia on Sept. 21 formally recognized a Palestinian state, putting the countries' policy at odds with President Donald Trump's on a massive international stage.

The British announcement was expected after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said over the summer that the country would vote in favor of recognition at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York – which begins Sept. 22 – unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. That hasn't happened.

The move is aimed at pressuring Israel into changing its Gaza policy. Israel says the recognition "rewards terror."

"Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine," Starmer said on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement formally recognizing "the independent and sovereign State of Palestine," calling it "part of co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken in the atrocities of October 7, 2023."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that "while Canada is under no illusions that this recognition is a panacea, this recognition is firmly aligned with the principles of self-determination and fundamental human rights reflected in the United Nations Charter."

Trump opposes recognizing a Palestinian state, saying of Gaza during a visit to Scotland in July that he was "looking to getting people fed right now. That's the No. 1 position, because you have a lot of starving people." While on vacation in Britain in August, Vice President JD Vance said: "I don’t know what it would really mean to recognize a Palestinian state, given the lack of a functional government there."

The issue of Palestinian recognition did not meaningfully feature during Trump's state visit to Britain last week. When it came up in a news conference, Trump said it was one of the "few disagreements" he had with Starmer, but he did not press him on the matter. The British recognition pledge comes as France's President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia intend to convene a conference at the U.N. on Sept. 22 on the topic.

Palestinian statehood is recognized by 147 of the United Nations' 193 member states. Palestinian territory encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem − which Palestinians view as their capital − and Gaza. In July, France became the first G7 country to pledge to recognize a Palestinian state.

"The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued," Macron said at the time. "Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza."

Rowan Nicholson, a scholar of international law at Australia's Flinders University, said that to qualify as a state, four criteria are typically required: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government and independence. Nicholson said the conditions for statehood are both fairly rigid and a matter of debate.

Successive American administrations have taken the view that any formal recognition of a Palestinian state should come only through direct negotiation between the relevant parties: Israelis and Palestinians.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UK, Australia and Canada recognize Palestinian state, putting countries at odds with Trump

Reporting by Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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