Portugal has confirmed it will officially recognize the State of Palestine this Sunday, marking a historic shift in its foreign policy. The announcement comes just days before the United Nations General Assembly, where several other countries are expected to declare similar recognition.

According to Lisbon's foreign ministry, the recognition reflects deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis. Portugal had already indicated in July that it was preparing to take this step, citing Israel's continued settlement expansion and repeated threats to annex Palestinian territories.

Britain, Canada, and France are among other Western nations preparing to follow suit. Their coordinated decision is seen as a significant signal that momentum is growing internationally for the formal acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood. Such recognition challenges Israel's longstanding opposition and its insistence that statehood must only come through bilateral negotiations.

The official Portuguese statement, published Friday, confirmed that the declaration will be made on September 21. It emphasized the urgency of advancing a two-state solution, calling recognition a necessary political step to revive meaningful peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

Israel has condemned these plans, claiming they reward Hamas for its October 2023 attack. However, the scale of devastation in Gaza has influenced even Israel's traditional allies. With famine warnings and a humanitarian crisis worsening daily, international sympathy for Palestinians has intensified.

Other nations preparing recognition include Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino. French officials suggested that coordinated announcements at the UN Assembly would strengthen diplomatic pressure for a political resolution to the decades-long conflict.

Currently, about three-quarters of UN member states already recognize Palestine. With growing Western support, the momentum could redefine the balance of global diplomacy, potentially marking a decisive moment in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.

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