UK, Portugal to recognize Palestinian state
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said in July that Britain would formally recognize the state of Palestine if Israel did not take “substantive steps” towards a ceasefire with Hamas by the time the UN General Assembly convened in September.
British news outlets including the BBC reported over the weekend that Starmer would announce the move on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it too would formally recognize the a Palestinian state on Sunday.
Portugal first announced its intent to recognize the state of Palestine back in July, citing the “extremely worrying evolution of the conflict” as well as the humanitarian crisis and Israel’s repeated threats to annex Palestinian land, but had not confirmed a date until this week.
Several other Western countries including France, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta are expected to make a decision on formally recognizing the state of Palestine in the coming days.
https://p.dw.com/p/50p1S
We’re pausing the blog
We’ll continue with news from Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza City as well as news from the Middle East tomorrow.
https://p.dw.com/p/50oyg
Syria’s election after dictatorship: What you need to know
After decades of dictatorship and civil war, Syria is holding its first elections this month.
However, not every Syrian will be going to a voting booth, and the process does not include political parties or campaign posters.
Learn more about how this historic ballot in Syria will work.
https://p.dw.com/p/50ot1
September 20, 2025
Germany’s tightrope walk over recognizing state of Palestine
On September 22, a moment of decision will take place on New York’s East River at the United Nations General Assembly.
France, Canada, and Belgium intend to recognize Palestine as a state, and the United Kingdom is also likely to take the step.
The goal is to exert pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war and initiate a new peace process.
Germany, however, is not among them.
“We won’t be joining this initiative,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz in August when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited.
Read more to find out how pressure is mounting for the German government to take a stronger stance.
https://p.dw.com/p/50oup
September 20, 2025
Death toll in Gaza city rises to over 30
As Israel presses on with its military offensive, the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza City on Saturday has now reached at least 31, according to latest count provided by health authorities in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said its attacks destroyed tunnels and buildings rigged with explosive traps, as well as sniper positions in Gaza City and other locations near the coast.
https://p.dw.com/p/50osf
September 20, 2025
Death toll in Gaza city rises to over 30
As Israel presses on with its military offensive, the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza City on Saturday has now reached at least 31, according to latest count provided by health authorities in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said its attacks destroyed tunnels and buildings rigged with explosive traps, as well as sniper positions in Gaza City and other locations near the coast.
https://p.dw.com/p/50osf
September 20, 2025
Hamas warns hostages may disappear if Israeli assault continues
The armed wing of Hamas published “farewell” photographs of most of the remaining hostages in Gaza, warning that Israel’s assault on Gaza City could endanger them.
The militant group invoked comparisons with Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator whose plane went down over southern Lebanon in 1986. Arad is presumed dead as his remains were never returned.
On Saturday, Hamas militants released 47 photographs of hostages, each with the name “Ron Arad” written underneath.
“Due to [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s obstinacy … a farewell photograph taken at the start of the operation in Gaza City,” Hamas wrote alongside the photos.
Of the 251 people seized by Palestinian militants during their attack on Israel in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza. The Israeli military says that 25 of them are dead.
https://p.dw.com/p/50okP
Baerbock says two-state solution conference can raise pressure on Israel
Annalena Baerbock, the current president of the UN General Assembly and former German foreign minister, said that next week’s conference on a two-state solution can increase pressure on Israel to end the war.
On Monday, representatives of UN member states will discuss the two-state solution at an international conference at the UN headquarters.
Talking to Deutschlandfunk radio, Baerbock said the conference in New York will make it clear that nations do not accept “that international law is being violated time and again, for example, by the Israeli government not allowing any relief supplies or humanitarian aid into Gaza, by repeatedly attacking civilian areas.”
This conference comes ahead of the UN General Assembly set to start on Tuesday. Previously, several countries, including France, Belgium, Australia, the UK and Canada, announced that they would officially recogn Palestine as a state at the upcoming UN session.
However Baerbock also warned that recognition would not be enough to stop the war. “The world is by no means that simple,” she said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently rejected the idea of a two-state solution.
https://p.dw.com/p/50oSq
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Baerbock, the current president of the UN General Assembly and former German foreign minister, said that next week’s conference on a two-state solution can increase pressure on Israel to end the war.
On Monday, representatives of UN member states will discuss the two-state solution at an international conference at the UN headquarters.
Talking to Deutschlandfunk radio, Baerbock said the conference in New York will make it clear that nations do not accept “that international law is being violated time and again, for example, by the Israeli government not allowing any relief supplies or humanitarian aid into Gaza, by repeatedly attacking civilian areas.”
This conference comes ahead of the UN General Assembly set to start on Tuesday. Previ
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-uk-portugal-set-to-recognize-palestinian-state/live-74075302?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
