Portugal has announced it is considering recognising the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, joining a rapidly expanding coalition of Western nations coordinating diplomatic recognition amid growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Portuguese Prime Minister’s office confirmed on Thursday that the government will now consult with the country’s president “with a view to considering the recognition of the Palestinian State” during the High-Level Week of the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
The announcement follows a UN conference attended by Portugal and other nations discussing the conditions required to recognise Palestinian statehood. If Portugal proceeds, it would align itself with France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, all of whom have announced similar intentions in recent days, marking a significant shift in Western diplomatic positions.
Portugal’s government stated it will consult the country’s president “with a view to considering the recognition of the Palestinian State, in a procedure that can be concluded during the High-Level Week of the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations, to be held in New York next September.”
The coordinated timing suggests a deliberate diplomatic strategy to create what French President Emmanuel Macron has called “collective momentum” towards Palestinian recognition.
Major Western Powers Lead Shift
The movement gained significant traction when France became the first G7 member to announce its intention to recognise Palestine. President Macron declared last week that France would formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, describing it as part of the country’s “historical commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
The United Kingdom followed with a conditional announcement. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Britain would recognise Palestine by September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza” and commits to a genuine peace process. Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised it was “with the hand of history on our shoulders” that London planned the recognition, acknowledging Britain’s pivotal role in Israel’s creation through the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that his country would recognise Palestine, subject to conditions including Palestinian Authority reforms, elections in 2026, exclusion of Hamas from government, and agreement to demilitarise the future Palestinian state.
Broader International Movement
Portugal’s consideration is part of a wider international trend. A joint statement was issued overnight by foreign ministers from nine countries that have not yet recognised Palestine – Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino – alongside nations that have already recognised or announced recognition, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Norway, France, and Malta.
Currently, 147 of the 193 UN member states – approximately 75% – have recognised the State of Palestine. Among the G20, ten countries including China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa have recognised Palestine, whilst nine, including the United States, Germany, and Japan, have not.
The coordinated announcements suggest careful diplomatic choreography aimed at maximising political impact whilst avoiding accusations of unilateral action.
Humanitarian Crisis Drives Urgency
The timing of these announcements reflects mounting international concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Israeli forces have killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, including 18,500 children, according to Palestinian health authorities, whilst much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, responding to the government’s announcement, noted that “The government took a very carefully considered decision in consultation with its European and other partners,”highlighting the coordinated nature of the diplomatic shift.
The statement from Portugal’s Prime Minister’s office cited “the extremely worrying developments in the conflict, both from a humanitarian perspective and through repeated references to a possible annexation of Palestinian territories” as factors in their decision.
Israeli Opposition and US Resistance
Israel has strongly condemned these recognition plans. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the announcements, stating: “The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office warned that recognising Palestine “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy” and claimed a Palestinian state would be “a launchpad to annihilate Israel.
The United States remains firmly opposed to Palestinian recognition. President Donald Trump dismissed Macron’s announcement, saying “What he says doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything.” He added regarding recognition: “You could make the case that you’re rewarding people, that you’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think they should be rewarded.”
Conditional Recognition Models
Several countries are attaching conditions to their recognition plans. Canada’s requirements are the most detailed, demanding Palestinian Authority reforms, democratic elections excluding Hamas, anti-corruption measures, and agreement to demilitarisation.
The UK’s conditional approach links recognition directly to Israeli actions, requiring “substantive steps” to end the Gaza conflict and commit to peace. This creates diplomatic pressure on Israel whilst maintaining flexibility for Britain.
These conditional models may provide a template for other nations considering recognition, balancing support for Palestinian self-determination with concerns about security and governance.
Historical Context and Legal Framework
Palestine declared independence in 1988 during the First Intifada, with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) claiming sovereignty over the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. The UN General Assembly recognised Palestinian self-determination rights in 1974 and granted Palestine non-member observer state status in 2012.
In 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recognising that Palestine met requirements for UN membership and requested the Security Council reconsider admission. However, full membership remains blocked by the United States’ Security Council veto.
Palestine has joined numerous international organisations including UNESCO and the International Criminal Court, building institutional recognition despite lacking full UN membership.
Implications and Challenges
The coordinated recognition campaign represents a significant diplomatic victory for Palestine, potentially shifting international consensus despite American and Israeli opposition. However, major obstacles remain to actualising Palestinian statehood.
Israel currently occupies the Palestinian territories and has overseen major expansion of settlements illegal under international law. This week, Israel’s parliament approved a symbolic motion calling for West Bank annexation, further complicating prospects for a two-state solution.
The recognition plans also expose divisions within the Western alliance, with the US increasingly isolated in opposing Palestinian statehood whilst key allies coordinate alternative approaches.
Looking Ahead
As September approaches, more nations may join the recognition coalition. EU members Finland and Luxembourg have indicated they are considering recognition, whilst Australia and New Zealand – both close US allies – are reportedly weighing similar moves.
The effectiveness of symbolic recognition without substantive changes on the ground remains debated. Critics argue recognition without Israeli agreement changes little practically, whilst supporters contend diplomatic momentum can create political pressure for genuine negotiations.
Portugal’s final decision will depend on consultations between the government, president, and parliament. Given the coordinated nature of recent announcements, Portuguese recognition appears increasingly likely, adding another European voice to calls for Palestinian statehood.
The September UN General Assembly promises to be a diplomatic flashpoint, testing Western unity and potentially reshaping international approaches to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict amid one of its bloodiest chapters.
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Image Credit:
This is a licensed photograph:
- Luís Montenegro (2022 portrait) – English description: Luís Montenegro 2022.jpg, extracted from EPP Summit, 20 October 2022, Brussels, by the European People’s Party, photo taken on 3 December 2022 at 10:33, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).
