Portugal is considering the formal recognition of Palestinian Statehood this September, joining a growing list of nations that plan to make the move.
On Thursday, the office of Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, said that the government will hold consultations with the president and parliament to decide on the question of recognizing the State of Palestine at the UN in September, reported AFP.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office said: “Portugal is considering recognition of the Palestinian state, as part of a procedure that could be concluded during the high-level week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to be held in New York in September.”
Currently, 147 out of the 193 UN member states recognize the State of Palestine, which holds observer status at the UN. With this move, Portugal joins France, the UK, Canada and Malta, all of which announced they would formally recognize Palestine this September.
France was the first major Western power to announce the recognition plan. Few days later, the UK, Canada and Malta made their announcements at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France in New York.
Britain’s move is conditional on a ceasefire in Gaza by September, while Canada’s decision hinges on political changes by the Palestinian Authority.
Other European countries, such as Spain, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Armenia, recognized the Palestinian State in 2024. These recent announcements are driven by Saudi Arabia’s intensive diplomatic efforts and a growing frustration with Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and caused one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian crises.
