Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Statehood, Warns Western Leaders: “It Will Not Happen”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday declared that there will be no Palestinian state, issuing a sharp rebuke to Britain, Canada, and Australia after their governments formally recognised Palestinian statehood.

“I have a clear message for those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: you are granting a huge reward to terror,” Netanyahu said. “And I have another message for you: it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”

The decision by Britain and Canada — the first G7 nations to take the step — and Australia sparked mixed global reactions.

In Gaza, displaced residents welcomed the recognition as a symbol of hope after nearly two years of war.
“We shouldn’t just be numbers in the news,” said Salwa Mansour, 35, now living in Al-Mawasi. “This recognition shows the world is finally starting to hear our voice, and that in itself is a moral victory.”

Another Palestinian, Mohammed Abu Khousa from Deir el-Balah, expressed optimism: “When a country like Britain and Canada recognise us, it chips away at Israel’s legitimacy and gives our cause a new spark of hope.”

But not all Palestinians were convinced. Mohammed Azzam, a Ramallah resident, argued that recognition alone changes little.
“Countries have recognised Palestine before, but settlers’ attacks, killings, and raids only increase. In reality, this does not help us at all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials and citizens condemned the move. Far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir called for full annexation of the West Bank, while Jerusalem residents warned the decision was premature.
“As long as hostages remain in Gaza, I don’t see how we can consider turning the page,” said Muriel Amar, a 62-year-old Franco-Israeli.

The war erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken. Since then, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 65,283 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures deemed credible by the UN.

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