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Portugal has announced it is weighing the possibility of officially recognising the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, amid growing international momentum and concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
A statement from Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s office on Thursday confirmed that the government is considering formal recognition as part of a process that could be finalised during the high-level week of the 80th UN General Assembly, scheduled to take place in New York in September.
The decision follows what the Portuguese government described as “multiple contacts” with international partners, and is influenced by what it called “extremely worrying developments in the conflict,” including humanitarian suffering and repeated references to potential Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories.
Portugal may join a growing list of countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, that have recently expressed intentions—some more firmly than others—to extend diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state.
International concern has been mounting over deteriorating conditions in Gaza. A UN-backed global hunger monitoring body warned earlier this week that a “worst-case famine scenario” is unfolding in the region, further amplifying calls for diplomatic and humanitarian responses.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that France will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN Assembly in September, hoping to galvanise other nations into taking similar steps. In response to the Portuguese government’s announcement, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the move was made after careful consultation with European and other international partners.
