Arguing that the move sidelines Hamas and advances peace, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia announced on Sunday their formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer proudly declared in a video statement.

He insisted that the two-state solution “is not a reward for Hamas, because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”

“Hamas is a brutal terror organization. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision,” said Starmer.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney proclaimed that the “current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established.”

And Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his decision reflects Canberra’s “longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples.”

He stressed that “the terrorist organization Hamas must have no role in Palestine.”

The coordinated announcements came a day before the United Nations General Assembly in New York kicks off, which will feature a significant focus on the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution. Saudi Arabia and France are hosting a summit on September 22 in New York, at which more leaders are set to recognize Palestinian statehood.

As expected, the announcements set off a wave of furious denunciations from across the Zionist political spectrum in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday morning, ahead of the formal announcements, that Israel will respond to calls to establish a Palestinian state, calling for a “fight” against the move, which he said would “endanger [Israel’s] existence.”

Israel’s response to the recognition will come after the premier returns from the US next week, said Netanyahu later on Sunday.

“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7 — you are handing a huge reward to terror,” said the prime minister in a video statement.

“It will not happen,” he continued. “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan.”

Netanyahu boasted that under his leadership, Israel “doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria — and we will continue on this course.”

“The response to the recent attempt to force a terrorist state upon us in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States,” said Netanyahu. “Wait.”

Netanyahu is slated to fly to New York on Wednesday night, and then to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump next Sunday. He is expected to be back in Israel by next Wednesday.

The recognition of a Palestinian state by Commonwealth countries “not only rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organization that is calling and acting for the annihilation of Israel, but also solidifies the support Hamas enjoys,” said the Foreign Ministry. “Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar charged that the countries “are taking a step that is not only mistaken, but also outrageous and immoral.”

Calling it a “diplomatic disaster” that a different Israeli government could have prevented, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called the move “a harmful step, and a reward for terror.”

Yair Golan, chairman of the left-wing Democrats party, said recognition is “destructive” and “extremely damaging” to Israel.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised the move, saying it was “an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum blasted the three countries for the “unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.”

“As families who deeply want peace in the region, we believe that any discussion about recognizing a Palestinian state must be contingent upon the immediate release of all hostages,” the forum said, calling it a “moral and humanitarian imperative.”

The forum urged other nations to “act responsibly and ensure that any ‘day after’ discussions occur only after our loved ones are brought home.”

France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and San Marino are also expected to recognize the state of Palestine this week at the UN.

In protest of announcements that a wave of Western countries would recognize a Palestinian state, the Trump administration in Washington said last month that it would bar Abbas and other PA officials from attending the General Assembly. The UN voted overwhelmingly on Friday to let Abbas deliver his speech virtually.

Trump said during a state visit to the United Kingdom last week that he disagreed with Starmer’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, amid reports that Starmer was gearing up to do so once the US president has departed the country.

Speaking at a press conference alongside the British leader outside London, Trump said he had “a few disagreements with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.”

Starmer said that he and Trump nevertheless agreed on the ultimate aim of peace in the region.

In July, the Knesset voted 71-13 in favor of a non-binding motion in support of applying sovereignty to the West Bank, which Netanyahu is now considering in response to the planned recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Around three-quarters of the 193 members of the United Nations already recognize the state of Palestine, which the General Assembly approved de facto recognition of in 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to “non-member state” from “entity.”

Several other European nations, such as Spain and Norway, have announced recognition of a Palestinian state since the outbreak of the Gaza war, sparked by the devastating Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023.