Portugal will formally recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, its foreign ministry confirmed, joining a growing list of Western nations preparing similar moves ahead of next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Britain, Canada and France are also expected to extend recognition during the assembly, which comes as Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza continues. Lisbon had already signaled its intention in July, citing the worsening conflict, the humanitarian crisis, and repeated threats of annexation of Palestinian land.
“The ministry of foreign affairs confirms that Portugal will recognize the State of Palestine… the official declaration of recognition will be made on Sunday, September 21,” the ministry said in a statement.
Israel has strongly opposed the recognition efforts, arguing they amount to rewarding Hamas for its October 2023 attack that triggered the war. However, the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza where the UN has warned of famine in Gaza City has swayed even some of Israel’s traditional allies.
An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino also plan to recognize Palestine.
The UN General Assembly, beginning Monday, will focus heavily on the two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli Palestinian conflict. Currently, about three-quarters of the UN’s 193 member states already recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
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