Portugal to weigh recognising a Palestinian state

Portugal will consider whether to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s office said Thursday.

France, Britain and Canada have all in recent days voiced, in some cases qualified, intentions to diplomatically recognise a Palestinian state.

The moves have come as international concern and criticism has grown over worrying malnutrition in Gaza.

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”, the statement said.

This decision was made after “multiple contacts” with partners, given “the extremely worrying developments in the conflict, both from a humanitarian perspective and through repeated references to a possible annexation of Palestinian territories” by Israel, the statement said.

A UN-backed international hunger monitoring organisation on Tuesday that a “worst-case famine scenario” was underway in Gaza.

Portugal may join other countries such as Britain, Canada and France, which have signalled their intention to recognise the Palestinian state in September.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would officially recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, hoping to create collective momentum in this direction.

“The government took a very carefully considered decision in consultation with its European and other partners,” Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa responded immediately after the executive’s announcement.