In a dramatic turn of events, Britain, Canada and Australia have formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, breaking from past reluctance and shifting traditional Western foreign policy. A changing diplomatic landscapeBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government acted “in the face of the growing horror in the Middle East” to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Canada, too, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, joined the recognition in a coordinated move designed, leaders say, to pressure all parties to return to negotiations. Starmer had previously set conditions: Israel should improve humanitarian access to Gaza, cease expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and show willingness to negotiate toward a Palestinian state. Supporters in the UK, Canada, and Australia see the recognition as a necessary step in trying to salvage the two-state path.