Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Three of Israel's oldest allies -- Australia, Britain and Canada -- formally recognized the state of Palestine on Sunday, and more countries are expected to follow suit in the coming week.
The three countries join 147 other nations that recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Also expected to make announcements -- some Monday at a U.N. conference to discuss a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- are Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, and possibly Lichtenstein and New Zealand -- according to The Guardian.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said London's decision to recognize Palestine was in an effort to support the possibility of a two-state solution, which it views as being under threat amid the war with Israel.
She also said Hamas "can have no role" in the future of an independent Palestine and called for the release of the remaining hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
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