Portugal To Officially Recognise Palestine Before UN Meeting

Portugal has officially announced that it will recognise the State of Palestine, joining other countries including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the official declaration of recognition will take place on Sunday, September 21, just a day before a high-level conference on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Government Consultation and Decision

According to Portuguese media, the country’s centre-right Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, consulted both the president and the parliament before finalising the decision. This recognition marks the end of nearly 15 years of debate in Portugal’s parliament, after the proposal was first introduced in 2011 by the Left Bloc political party.

Context of the Global Situation

The announcement comes amid growing international concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A recent UN inquiry has concluded that Israel’s war on Gaza amounts to a genocide. Since October 2023, at least 65,141 people have died and 165,925 have been injured, with many more believed to be trapped under rubble.

Portugal’s Earlier Statement on Recognition

The Portuguese government had initially announced its intention to recognise Palestine in July, citing the “extremely worrying evolution of the conflict,” ongoing humanitarian crises, and Israel’s repeated threats to annex Palestinian land. The current step formalises that earlier intention and aligns Portugal with countries seeking to support Palestinian statehood.

Other Countries Planning Recognition

Ahead of the UNGA conference, several countries have expressed plans to recognise Palestine. France, along with Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino, intends to make announcements at the high-level meeting co-organised with Saudi Arabia. Canada and the United Kingdom have also declared their intention to join this recognition. In total, approximately 147 countries, representing 75 percent of UN members, had already recognised Palestinian statehood by April 2025.

UN Support for Palestinian Leadership

Portugal was also among 145 countries that voted in favour of allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the UNGA via video, after the United States denied him a visa. Only five countries, including Israel and the US, voted against the option, while six countries abstained.

Reactions From Israel and the United States

Israel and the United States have strongly criticised moves to recognise Palestine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described France’s recognition as “reckless” and accused it of serving Hamas propaganda. Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, warned that new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank would be established for every country recognising Palestine.

Luxembourg’s Approach and Potential Sanctions

Luxembourg has also announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA. Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel stated that the country may take additional measures, including sanctions, and proposed a parliamentary bill to support this approach. UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has urged countries to take stronger actions against Israel, including arms embargoes and sanctions, to end the war in Gaza.

Historical Context of Palestinian Statehood

The United Nations originally proposed the partition of Palestine in 1947, granting 45 percent of the land to an Arab state. At that time, the UNGA had 57 member states, many of which were still under colonial rule and could not vote. The recognition of Palestinian statehood by modern nations is seen as a continuation of long-standing international efforts to establish a sovereign Palestinian state.