LONDON,- Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, marking a major diplomatic shift from three longtime allies of Israel. The announcement placed the three Western governments alongside roughly 140 other nations that already back Palestinian aspirations for independence in the territories occupied by Israel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the recognition was intended to preserve the possibility of two states living side by side. In a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Starmer reaffirmed that the United Kingdom supports Palestinian statehood and remains committed to a two-state framework. Australia echoed the same message, stressing that recognition was not an endorsement of Hamas but an acknowledgment of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.