The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada officially recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday, a day before similar announcements from other countries, a historic decision denounced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "danger" to Israel's existence.

"Today, to rekindle hope for peace and a two-state solution, I declare clearly as Prime Minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a video message posted on social media.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that this decision was "part of a concerted international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution."

In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted "the legitimate and long-standing aspirations of the people of Palestine for a state of their own."

These announcements, from Israel's historic allies, come as Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza, triggered by a deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in 2023.

A growing number of other states, long close to Israel, have already taken this symbolic step in recent months, despite strong pressure from the United States and Israel.

At a summit on Monday co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, which is due to consider the future of the two-state solution on the eve of the UN General Assembly, around ten countries are also expected to confirm their formal recognition of the Palestinian state.

Even before Sunday's announcements, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "fight at the UN and on all other fronts against the false propaganda against us and against calls for the creation of a Palestinian state that would endanger our existence and constitute an absurd reward for terrorism."

"The international community will hear from us on this in the coming days," he added.

His National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has proposed the "immediate" annexation of the West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the British decision was a step towards a "lasting" peace.

- "Not a reward" for Hamas -

Keir Starmer announced in July that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly unless Israel made a series of commitments, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

This goal is far from being achieved, as Israel launched a vast land and air military campaign this week in Gaza City, in the north of the Palestinian territory, to destroy Hamas.

"Nearly two years after the barbaric attacks of October 7, Hamas terrorists are still holding hostages" and "the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened," insisted Keir Starmer, also denouncing the "acceleration" of colonization in the West Bank.

He also reiterated that recognizing the State of Palestine "was not a reward for Hamas, because it means that Hamas can have no future, no role in a future (Palestinian) government, nor any role in the security" of the Palestinian territories.

He announced that his country would impose new sanctions against Hamas "in the coming weeks."

The head of the Palestinian mission to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, welcomed to AFP "this historic announcement" for Palestine, which "corrects an injustice" against the Palestinians.

According to a poll published Friday, 44% of Britons support the UK recognizing a Palestinian state.

Portugal is also due to announce its recognition of the Palestinian state on Sunday.

- Differences with the United States -

With this announcement, these countries are further accentuating their differences with the American administration on the conflict in the Middle East.

The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, criticized the Franco-Saudi initiative.

During a state visit to the United Kingdom this week, Donald Trump affirmed his opposition to the British choice during a joint press conference with Keir Starmer.

About three-quarters of the UN's 193 member states recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988.

On Tuesday, a UN-mandated independent commission of inquiry found that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim Israeli authorities have denied.

The October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to official data.

According to the Hamas government's health ministry in Gaza, Israeli reprisals have claimed the lives of 65,062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas seized power in 2007.