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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed recent Western recognition of Palestine, saying a Palestinian state cannot exist without Israel’s agreement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that recent moves by Western countries to recognise the State of Palestine are “irrelevant” without Israel’s consent. Speaking in a radio interview on Thursday, Rubio said, “None of these countries have the ability to create a Palestinian state.”
“There can be no Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to it,” he added, stressing that fundamental details remain unresolved. “They can’t even tell you where this Palestinian state is. They can’t tell you who will govern it. And I think number three, it’s counterproductive.”
Rubio also accused nations recognising Palestine of siding with Hamas, which he said is “still holding 20 people hostage and the bodies of more than 50 others.” He claimed that recent declarations are “rallying to Hamas’ side” and risk undermining ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
“At the end of the day, the Hamas side is the Palestinian statehood side. So you are creating this reward,” Rubio said, arguing the move gives Hamas “every reason in the world not to agree to [a] ceasefire and not to release these hostages.”
He further alleged that many of these decisions are motivated by domestic political pressure rather than actual diplomatic impact. “They’re actually hurting the cause, they’re not helping,” he said.
Proponents of Palestinian recognition argue otherwise, stating that it is a necessary step toward achieving long-term peace.
Rubio called on Western countries to shift their focus and “unite in pressuring Hamas to immediately release the 20 living hostages.”
Recognition push by Western countries
In late June, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would recognise the State of Palestine, with a formal announcement expected at the UN General Assembly in September.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Malta’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Christopher Cutajar have also declared their governments’ intention to recognise Palestine.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN if Israel fails to meet certain conditions.
The formal recognitions are expected to be announced at the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Châtelet-Les Halles areas from 11pm Saturday until 6am Sunday (1 November).
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
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