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Infection rates from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” rose almost 70% between 2019 and 2023, according to a new report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists. Bacteria that are difficult to treat due to the so-called NDM gene primarily drove the increase, CDC researchers wrote in an article published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Only two antibiotics work against those infections, and the drugs are expensive and must be administered through an IV, researchers said. Bacteria with the gene were once considered exotic, linked to a small number of patients who received medical care overseas. Though the numbers are still small, the rate of U.S. cases jumped more than fivefold in recent years, the researchers reported. “The rise of NDMs in the U.S. is a grave danger and very worrisome,” said David Weiss, an Emory University infectious diseases researcher, in an email. It's likely many people are unrecognized carriers of the drug-resistant bacteria, which could lead to community spread, the CDC scientists said. That may play out in doctors’ offices across the country, as infections long considered routine — like urinary tract infections — could become harder to treat, said Dr. Maroya Walters, one of the report’s authors. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when germs such as bacteria and fungi gain the power to fight off the drugs designed to kill them. The misuse of antibiotics was a big reason for the rise — unfinished or unnecessary prescriptions that didn’t kill the germs made them stronger. In recent years, the CDC has drawn attention to “ nightmare bacteria ” resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. That includes carbapenems, a class of antibiotics considered a last resort for treatment of serious infections. Researchers drew data from 29 states that do the necessary testing and reporting of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. They counted 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections from those states in 2023, with 1,831 of them the NDM variety. The researchers did not say how many of the infected people died. The rate of carbapenem-resistant infections rose from just under 2 per 100,000 people in 2019 to more than 3 per 100,000 in 2023 — an increase of 69%. But the rate of NDM cases rose from around 0.25 to about 1.35 — an increase of 460%, the authors said. A researcher not involved in the study said the increase is probably related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that there was a huge surge in antibiotic use during the pandemic, so this likely is reflected in increasing drug resistance,” said Dr. Jason Burnham, a Washington University researcher, in an email. The CDC’s count is only a partial picture. Many states are not fully testing and reporting cases. Even in states that do, cases tend to be among hospital patients sick enough to warrant special testing. Many hospitals also aren’t able to do the testing needed to detect certain forms of genetic resistance. The CDC researchers did not have data from some of the most populous states, including California, Florida, New York and Texas, which means the absolute number of U.S. infections “is definitely underestimated,” Burnham said. This is not the first study to report a rise. A CDC report published in June noted an increase in NDM cases in New York City between 2019 and 2024.

News of a sick or injured mountain gorilla can worry local residents in this mountainous area that’s home to the endangered species. That’s partly because most of the gorillas have been given names, allowing rangers and others to humanize the animal's suffering. But widespread interest in protecting mountain gorillas also comes from the economic benefits of tourism that have turned poachers into conservationists, married women into porters and rangers into eloquent spokespeople for the great apes. “If we know there is a gorilla that is sick, you see everyone is concerned. ‘Why? Why is the gorilla sick? It’s suffering from what?’” said Joyleen Tugume, a ranger-guide in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. “Even the community people. Everyone is touched.” Tugume said poaching in the park is increasingly rare since “we are actually all working together to make sure conservation goes well, because we are all benefitting.” Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in a remote part of southwestern Uganda, is home to many groups of habituated gorillas that have become comfortable in the presence of humans. Vibrant tourist economyTourists pay a considerable sum — $800 in permit fees per foreign non-resident — for the right to see gorillas in their natural habitat. An official revenue-sharing policy channels $10 from each permit back to the local community via their elected leaders, who can invest in projects ranging from water provision to health care. Local communities are also entitled to 20% of all park entry fees generated annually. Many locals, including reformed poachers living near the park, told The Associated Press that the money generated has ensured the recovery of the species, with habitat encroachment and poaching in decline as wildlife authorities seek to collaborate more with nearby communities. Philemon Mujuni, a poacher until five years ago, said he once thought of the gorilla as a hostile animal to be killed before it killed him if he ever encountered one. As a boy, he used to follow his father, whom he described as “a senior poacher,” into the forest to help carry the antelopes they pulled from traps. But in 2020, when poachers killed a beloved gorilla named Rafiki, Mujuni and others formed an organization of former poachers who now say the primates are more important than any other animal. They serve as community watchdogs, looking out for people who might venture into the forest to set duiker traps that sometimes ensnare gorillas. Their surveillance efforts help support the work of armed rangers who also regularly patrol the park. “When community conservation rangers sensitized us, we said, ‘Let us reform and stop poaching in the national park of Bwindi,’” Mujuni said. “I can’t go there. Because, through the conservation team from (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park), we get some money from these gorillas we could kill.” Reformed poachersPeter Tumwesigye, one of 128 members of the group of reformed poachers, said gorillas are so important that people whose actions lead to a gorilla's death should be jailed. “So that others can learn and never do it again,” he said. Many of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Massif, a mountainous area encompassing parts of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. The outlook for mountain gorillas has been positive since 2018, when a survey showed that the population exceeded 1,000. It's a remarkable comeback for a species that faced extinction in the last century. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which maintains a list of threatened species, cites the mountain gorilla as endangered, an improvement from its earlier designation as critically endangered. About half of the gorillas live in Uganda. Besides Bwindi, the only other Ugandan park where gorillas can be tracked in the wild is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. But that protected area has just one family of gorillas, while Bwindi has 27 groups that can be seen up close by visitors. The primates are tracked daily. Tugume, the ranger-guide, said she works even on Christmas Day. One recent morning she led a small group of tourists into the forest, swinging a sickle to clear the way and speaking of the tenderness she sees in gorillas. “You have to fight to take over,” she said, talking about a young male in a family of gorillas that one day could challenge the leader — known as a silverback for its distinguishing coat — for mating rights. “When you are the leader, you have all the rights to mate with the females. But when you are not the leader, you don’t need to mate but you can mate secretly. And if the silverback comes to know, then it will be a tug of war,” she said. At the offices of the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Buhoma, a town outside the park, a group of ranger-guides and porters gathers each morning for the opportunity to earn generous tips from helping tourists navigate the forest. Groups of trackers are allocated porters, who can even help carry an unfit tourist up the hills and through the undergrowth for around $300. “The value of the gorilla money is very critical,” said Gessa Simplicious, a conservationist with the Uganda Tourism Board. “It helps with building trust, but it also helps in the awareness of the need to conserve.”

An Israeli drone crashed into the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon but didn't cause any casualties, the force said in a statement Wednesday. The force, known as UNIFIL, said that by flying drones over Lebanon Israel was violating a U.N. Security Council resolution that helped end the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. Resolution 1701, which was first approved in 2006 to end a previous round of fighting, calls for both sides to respect the other's airspace. UNIFIL said that its explosive ordnance disposal experts secured and neutralized the drone immediately after it hit the headquarters in the Lebanese border town of Naqoura on Tuesday afternoon. UNIFIL added that the drone was not armed but was equipped with a camera. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. UNIFIL said the Israeli military “subsequently confirmed the drone belonged to them.” The peacekeeping force said that while peacekeepers are prepared to take action against threats to their safety, “this device fell on its own.” The incident came two weeks after UNIFIL said Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks. No one was hurt in the strike. The most recent Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion worth of destruction, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers. The war started when Hezbollah began firing rockets across the border on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after a deadly Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza. Israel responded with shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, and the two sides became locked in an escalating conflict that became a full-blown war in late September 2024.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for a criminal investigation against U.S. President Donald Trump and other top officials over this month’s deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean that Washington said were carrying drugs. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Petro denounced the three attacks and accused Trump of criminalizing poverty and migration. “Criminal proceedings must be opened against those officials, who are from the U.S., even if it includes the highest-ranking official who gave the order: President Trump,” Petro said. The Colombian leader rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the passengers killed in the first strike were members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Instead, he described them as poor Latin American youths with no other option. “If those boats carried drugs, as alleged, their passengers were not traffickers; they were simply impoverished young people,” he added. Petro’s remarks came shortly after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said his government was preparing constitutional decrees to defend the country’s sovereignty against possible U.S. aggression. According to U.S. officials, the first strike on September 2 killed 11 people. Another on September 16 left three dead, while a third attack last Friday killed three more. Washington said the vessels had departed from Venezuela and justified the operations as part of efforts to curb drug flows into the U.S. However, critics noted that the administration has yet to explain how the military determined the boats’ cargo or the alleged gang ties of those on board. U.S. security officials told Congress the first boat was struck after it changed course and appeared headed back to shore. “They said the missiles in the Caribbean were used to stop drug trafficking. That is a lie stated here in this very rostrum,” Petro told the Assembly, questioning whether bombing “unarmed, poor young people” was ever justified. Maduro has also accused Washington of using drug trafficking allegations as a pretext for a military operation aimed at toppling his government. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, restored diplomatic ties with Venezuela after taking office in 2022.  

France officially recognized Palestinian statehood on Monday during the opening of a high-level United Nations meeting aimed at reviving efforts toward a two-state solution in the Middle East. The move comes as the war in Gaza continues and more nations signal readiness to follow, defying opposition from Israel and the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration inside the UN General Assembly was met with applause from over 140 world leaders in attendance. Members of the Palestinian delegation, including UN envoy Riyad Mansour, stood to acknowledge the announcement. “Remaining true to France’s historic commitment to peace in the Middle East, I declare that today, France recognizes the State of Palestine,” Macron said. Several other European nations—Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco—either confirmed or announced similar recognition, following recent decisions by the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. However, key players like Germany, Italy, and Japan attended the conference without extending recognition. Despite the diplomatic momentum, the move is expected to have limited impact on the ground, where Israeli military operations in Gaza continue and settlement expansion in the West Bank intensifies. Abbas Calls for Peace, Condemns Violence Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who addressed the conference by video after the U.S. revoked his visa, reiterated condemnation of all civilian attacks, including those carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023. He noted that the Palestinian Authority had scrapped its controversial policy of financially supporting families of Palestinians imprisoned or killed by Israel—long a demand of both Israel and the U.S.—and is establishing a new social welfare system. Appealing to the Israeli public, Abbas said: “Enough violence and war,” while extending greetings to Jews worldwide on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah. The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, recognizes Israel and remains committed to a two-state solution, though it is viewed by many Palestinians as corrupt and disconnected from the population. Israel, for its part, has ruled out any role for the Authority in postwar Gaza and accuses it of inciting militancy. Widespread International Support for Palestinian Statehood Roughly 75% of UN member states already recognize Palestine, though many Western powers had previously withheld formal recognition, insisting on a negotiated settlement with Israel. Palestinians fleeing the fighting in Gaza expressed cautious optimism. “This is a beginning, or a glimmer of hope,” said Fawzi Nour al-Deen, one of thousands displaced from Gaza City. “We are a people who deserve a state.” The two-state framework, envisioning a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem—territories occupied by Israel since 1967—is widely supported internationally as the only viable long-term solution. Israel Rejects Move, Threatens Unilateral Action Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected the statehood recognitions, warning they reward Hamas after its 2023 attack. Netanyahu has suggested Israel may respond with unilateral actions, including annexation of parts of the West Bank—steps that could make Palestinian statehood all but impossible. Despite such threats, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the need to stay focused on long-term peace efforts. “We must not be distracted by intimidation or threats,” he said. Netanyahu, facing pressure from far-right allies to move forward with annexation, is expected to decide on Israel’s response after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week. He is also scheduled to address the UN on Friday. Meanwhile, the Trump administration—now back in power—has criticized the growing international recognition of Palestine, blaming it for the collapse of ceasefire negotiations. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, exited the talks in July, and earlier this month, Israel conducted a targeted strike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator. Political Divisions Continue France and Saudi Arabia have proposed a phased peace plan that would see a reformed Palestinian Authority governing both Gaza and the West Bank with international support. The plan was endorsed by 142 countries in the UN General Assembly earlier this month. Hamas, which won the last Palestinian elections in 2006, remains committed to establishing a state over all of historic Palestine, including present-day Israel, although it has occasionally hinted at accepting a state within the 1967 borders. U.S.-brokered peace talks have repeatedly failed since the 1990s due to recurring violence and continued Israeli settlement expansion. There have been no substantive negotiations since Netanyahu returned to power in 2009. Analysts warn that without a viable path to Palestinian statehood, Israel may face a future where it must choose between continued occupation or a binational state in which Jews could become a demographic minority.

As global leaders convened in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli forces continued their ground offensive in Gaza City, ordering the evacuation of a key hospital even as more countries moved to recognize Palestinian statehood. Despite the ongoing conflict, which has left Gaza City devastated and famine-stricken, hundreds of thousands remain in the city. On Monday, Israeli forces ordered the Jordanian field hospital — a critical medical center — to evacuate, according to a Palestinian health official. The military campaign, which began the previous Tuesday, is part of Israel’s stated mission to dismantle Hamas' military infrastructure. No end date has been provided, but signs point to a potentially months-long operation. Israel has called for a complete evacuation of Gaza City, and many residents have fled southward, though a significant population remains. France Formally Recognizes Palestinian State At the UN, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s official recognition of a Palestinian state, drawing applause from over 140 world leaders. Macron cited France’s long-standing commitment to peace in the Middle East. This move aligns with an increasing number of nations breaking with the U.S. and Israel’s stance. Until recently, most Western countries withheld recognition, insisting that statehood should be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel. Jordan Relocates Field Hospital Due to Shelling Jordan’s military announced it would move its field hospital from Tal al-Hawa in Gaza to Khan Yunis due to ongoing bombings that damaged the facility and endangered staff. The hospital, operational in its previous location for 16 years, had become isolated and nearly non-functional. Its relocation aims to serve a greater number of Gaza residents amid overwhelming demand for medical care. Video of Israeli Hostage Shakes Family The family of 24-year-old Israeli hostage Alon Ohel said they were deeply distressed after Hamas released a video of him looking frail and in pain. Ohel was kidnapped during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the current war. Ceasefire talks and hostage negotiations have stalled since an Israeli airstrike targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this month. UK Celebrates Recognition of Palestinian State In London, about 400 people gathered at the Palestinian Mission to celebrate Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state. Palestinian envoy Husam Zomlot thanked the British public, calling the move a historic gesture. He also urged further action, including sanctions on Israel and halting settlement expansion. Nearly 300,000 Have Fled Gaza City Since August A UN-trusted aid coalition, the Site Management Cluster, reported that nearly 300,000 people have moved south from Gaza City since mid-August. The figure is based on daytime counts at checkpoints and is likely a conservative estimate. Israel claims over 500,000 have fled, but many still remain amid worsening conditions and advancing troops. Displaced Gazans React to Statehood Recognition Reactions among displaced Palestinians were mixed. Some saw international recognition of a Palestinian state as a hopeful sign. “It’s a beginning,” said one displaced man. Another called it a positive gesture that boosts morale. However, others dismissed the impact amid the destruction, saying such recognition feels meaningless without concrete change. Italy Sees Nationwide Strike in Support of Gaza Across Italy, thousands of students and workers joined a 24-hour general strike to protest the crisis in Gaza. The strike disrupted transport and services in major cities like Rome and Milan. Over 20,000 demonstrators gathered in Rome, condemning Italy and the EU’s lack of action. France Ties Diplomatic Ties to Hostage Release French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that while France will recognize a Palestinian state symbolically, the full establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the release of hostages held by Hamas and other groups. This adds a condition to Macron’s earlier declaration at the UN. Israeli Forces Order Evacuation of Gaza Hospital Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of the Jordanian hospital in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood. Dr. Muneer al-Boush of the Gaza Health Ministry said at least 300 patients, medical staff, and families are inside. Residents reported soldiers approaching the hospital as many remain trapped nearby. More Countries Join in Recognizing Palestine Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal joined nearly 150 other nations over the weekend in recognizing Palestine. France and Saudi Arabia are using the UN summit to push for renewed momentum toward a two-state solution. However, the U.S. and Israel remain opposed, with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu threatening unilateral actions like annexing parts of the West Bank. Paris Projects Israeli and Palestinian Flags Ahead of France’s official recognition, Paris projected both the Palestinian and Israeli flags along with a dove of peace on the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing support for a two-state solution. The city's mayor emphasized solidarity with civilian victims on both sides. French Towns Defy Government, Raise Palestinian Flags In a move defying French government orders, several municipalities, including Saint-Denis and Nantes, raised Palestinian flags on public buildings. Local leaders said this was a gesture of solidarity amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Socialist leader Olivier Faure praised France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood as a key step toward peace.

Egyptians expressed anger this week after officials confirmed that a 3,000-year-old bracelet once owned by Pharaoh Amenemope was stolen from Cairo’s Egyptian Museum and later melted down for gold. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said in televised remarks Saturday night that the theft occurred on Sept. 9 while staff were preparing artifacts for an exhibition in Italy. He blamed “lax procedures” at the museum and noted that prosecutors are investigating the case. The bracelet, which featured a lapis lazuli bead, was stolen from a restoration lab at the museum. Authorities said it passed through several dealers before being sold for roughly $4,000 and ultimately melted into jewelry. The minister also acknowledged the lab had no security cameras. Four people have been arrested, including a restoration specialist at the museum who admitted to handing the bracelet to a friend who owned a silver shop in Cairo’s Sayyeda Zainab district. It was then sold on to a gold workshop owner before being resold and melted down by another worker. Officials said the suspects confessed, and the money from the sale has been seized. The ministry released security footage showing a shop owner weighing the bracelet and paying one of the suspects. On Sunday, local media reported that a judge extended the detention of the restoration specialist and her associate for 15 more days, while granting bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($207) each to the two others. The destruction of the relic, which had survived for three millennia, sparked widespread grief in Egypt, where ancient heritage is deeply cherished. Critics also questioned museum security and demanded stricter safeguards for the nation’s treasures. Prominent archaeologist Monica Hanna urged a halt to overseas exhibitions “until better control” is ensured. Human rights lawyer Malek Adly described the incident as “an alarm bell,” calling for stronger protection of antiquities both on display and in storage. Pharaoh Amenemope ruled from Tanis in the Nile Delta during Egypt’s 21st Dynasty. His royal necropolis, discovered in 1940 by French archaeologist Pierre Montet, includes about 2,500 artifacts such as golden masks, silver coffins, and jewels, many restored in 2021 with support from the Louvre Museum. The theft also revived memories of previous cultural losses, including the disappearance of Vincent van Gogh’s Poppy Flowers painting from a Cairo museum in 2010. The artwork, valued then at $50 million, was stolen once before in 1977 but later recovered. It has not been found since the 2010 theft.

Leaders from around the world began arriving Monday at the United Nations as it faces one of the most turbulent periods in its 80-year history. The global challenges are immense: ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, shifting U.S. foreign policy, widespread hunger, and rapidly evolving technologies that outpace global governance. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week, “International cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes.” Despite these challenges, the annual high-level General Assembly gathering brings together presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs from roughly 150 of the 193 U.N. member states. Guterres emphasized the importance of the meeting even in difficult times. “We are gathering in turbulent — even uncharted — waters,” he said, citing “our planet overheating, new technologies racing ahead without guardrails, inequalities widening by the hour.” He plans to use more than 150 one-on-one meetings with world leaders and ministers to encourage dialogue, bridge divides, mitigate risks, and seek solutions — from conflicts and climate change to regulating artificial intelligence and funding U.N. 2030 goals, including ending poverty and ensuring quality education for all children. “Leaders must make progress, not merely engage in posturing and promises,” he said. But observers remain skeptical. With no ceasefires in Gaza, Ukraine, or Sudan, whether the high-level meeting can achieve meaningful outcomes is uncertain. Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the International Crisis Group, said three issues will likely dominate: U.S. President Donald Trump’s first appearance in his second term, the crisis in Gaza, and the U.N.’s financial and staffing challenges following cuts to U.S. contributions. Gowan noted the nearly two-year Gaza conflict is central, as Israel has launched a major offensive in Gaza City and a U.N.-commissioned report accused Israel of committing genocide — a claim Israel rejected as “distorted and false.” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour emphasized, “Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session of the General Assembly.” Abbas will address the assembly via video after the U.S. refused him a visa, following a resolution allowing it. More than 145 countries already recognize Palestine, and Mansour told The Associated Press, “it's going to be 10 more” at Monday’s meeting. The assembly also plans a Security Council discussion on Gaza. Other key topics include Trump’s speech on Tuesday, climate change, Sudan, Somalia, Haiti, and U.N. reform. Guterres aims to rally support to make the U.N. more responsive amid a 15% budget cut and a 19% reduction in staff for 2026. Gowan said the U.N. remains vital despite its struggles: “The U.N.’s resonance on peace and security issues is unquestionably not what it was, but I think that the organization will continue to muddle through.”

The U.K., Australia and Canada formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, prompting an angry response from Israel, which ruled out the prospect. The coordinated initiative from the three Commonwealth nations and long-time allies reflects growing outrage at Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and the steps taken by the Israeli government to thwart efforts to create a Palestinian state, including by the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced pressure to take a harder line on Israel within his own governing Labour Party over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, said the U.K.’s move is intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis.” He insisted it wasn’t a reward for Hamas, which was behind the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in which the militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly as prime minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine,” Starmer said in a video message. “We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also.” The moves by the three countries prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that the establishment of a Palestinian state “will not happen.” The U.K. announcement was widely anticipated after Starmer said in July that the U.K. would recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowed the United Nations to bring in aid and took other steps toward long-term peace. More countries are expected to join the list recognizing a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly this week, including France, which like the U.K., is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Palestinian and Israeli reactions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the three countries for proferring a “prize” to Hamas. “It will not happen,” he said. “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.” Netanyahu is set to give a speech to the General Assembly on Friday before heading to see U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House Monday week. Ahead of Sunday’s announcement, Trump said he disapproved of the U.K.’s anticipated move. Hamas hailed the decision, calling it a “rightful outcome of our people’s struggle, steadfastness, and sacrifices on the path to liberation and return.” The Islamic militant group, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, called on the world to isolate Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that Sunday’s moves constitute an important and necessary step toward achieving a just peace in accordance with international law. As well as arguing that recognition is immoral, critics argue that it’s an empty gesture given that the Palestinian people are divided into two territories — the West Bank and the Gaza strip— and no recognized international capital. Historical overlay The U.K. and France have a historic role in the politics of the Middle East over the past 100 years, having carved up the region following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. As part of that carve-up, the U.K. became the governing power of what was then Palestine. It was also author of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which backed the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people.” However, the second part of the declaration has been largely neglected over the decades. It noted “that nothing shall be done, nothing which may prejudice the civil and religious rights” of the Palestinian people. “It’s significant for France and the U.K. to recognize Palestine because of the legacy of these two countries’ involvement in the Middle East,” said Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow for Middle East Security at London-based Royal United Services Institute. “But without the United States coming on board with the idea of a Palestine, I think very little will change on the ground.” Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the U.K., told the BBC that recognition would right a colonial-era wrong. “The issue today is ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago, in 1917,” he said. “And I think today, the British people should celebrate a day when history is being corrected, when wrongs are being righted, when recognition of the wrongs of the past are beginning to be corrected.” Diplomatic shift The U.K. has for decades supported an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, but insisted recognition must come as part of a peace plan to achieve a two-state solution. However, the government has become increasingly worried that such a solution is becoming all but impossible – and not only because of the razing of Gaza and displacement of most of its population during nearly two years of conflict, which has seen more than 65,000 people killed in Gaza, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Last week, independent experts commissioned by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a charge that Israel rejected as “distorted and false.” Also vexing the U.K. is Israel’s government has been aggressively expanding settlements in the West Bank, land Palestinians want for their future state. Much of the world regards Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which is ostensibly run by the Palestinian Authority, as illegal. “This move has symbolic and historic weight, makes clear the U.K.’s concerns about the survival of a two-state solution, and is intended to keep that goal relevant and alive,” said Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of the U.K. in the World Programme at the London-based think tank, Chatham House.

In a landmark decision, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday that the United Kingdom is officially recognizing a Palestinian state, defying strong objections from both the United States and Israel. The declaration, though largely symbolic, is seen as historically significant, especially considering Britain’s past role in shaping the modern Middle East. The announcement follows similar moves by Canada and Australia and comes amid renewed international momentum toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. Starmer said the decision aims to “revive hope for peace between Palestinians and Israelis,” signaling a shift in policy amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The announcement was expected, following Starmer’s earlier pledge in July that the UK would recognize Palestine unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire, allowed humanitarian aid access, and made concrete moves toward long-term peace. Global Support Grows The UK joins more than 140 countries that have already recognized a Palestinian state. France is also expected to do so during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, further strengthening international support for Palestinian statehood. However, the decision is not without controversy. Tensions with Allies The recognition comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump visited the UK and publicly opposed the move. “I disagree with the prime minister on this issue,” Trump said during his visit. Critics — including the Israeli government and the U.S. — argue that the recognition rewards Hamas and undermines peace efforts. They also contend that the move is symbolic at best, given the political and geographical split between the West Bank and Gaza, and the absence of a unified Palestinian capital. Starmer responded to the criticism by affirming that Hamas will have no role in the future governance of Palestine and reiterated calls for the release of Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks. A Historic Responsibility Britain’s decision carries added weight due to its historical role in the region. After World War I, the UK governed Palestine under a League of Nations mandate. In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, supporting the creation of a “national home for the Jewish people.” However, it also included a pledge to protect the rights of the Palestinian population — a promise many believe has gone unfulfilled. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who will represent the UK at the UN this week, called this failure a “historical injustice that continues today.” Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian mission in the UK, told the BBC that the recognition marks a moment of reckoning. “This is about ending a denial that began in 1917,” he said. “It’s a moment when historical wrongs are finally beginning to be addressed.” Policy Shift Amid Growing Frustration While the UK has long supported a two-state solution, it previously maintained that recognition should come only as part of a negotiated peace process. However, British officials now believe that such a solution is becoming increasingly unfeasible. This shift comes in the wake of near-total destruction in Gaza, mass displacement, and Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank — territory Palestinians hope to include in a future state. Much of the international community considers these settlements illegal under international law. Lammy emphasized the UK’s commitment to keeping the two-state vision alive: “We are working to reform the Palestinian Authority, and we must ensure the future of two states for the children of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.”