US official mocks ‘performative’ recognition of ‘State of Palestine’ by UK, Canada & Australia

A U.S. State Department spokesperson mocked the announcements by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal on Sunday which recognized a “State of Palestine,” ahead of a conference at the UN on Monday, where several other countries are set to join this recognition.

“Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures,” the spokesperson told news outlets on condition of anonymity.

“Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas,” the spokesperson added.

The Trump administration has made clear its opposition to the unilateral recognitions, including by boycotting the conference and refusing to issue travel visas for Palestinian officials.

On Monday, France and Saudi Arabia will co-host a meeting attended by dozens of other countries, while France and five additional countries will formally recognize a “State of Palestine.”

The U.S. was warned of possible consequences for those countries, including for its close ally, France.

Trump previously dismissed President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement as “irrelevant.” During a visit to the UK last week, he added that he has “a disagreement with the prime minister on that score.”

During a visit to Israel last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said recognizing a “State of Palestine” now only emboldens Hamas and makes it harder to end the war.

He also stated that the Trump administration has made this view clear to the UK, France, and Canada.

Some weeks ago, Rubio also charged that “The day the French announced their thing ... Hamas walked away from the negotiating table. They immediately increased their demands and stopped negotiating. We warned that would happen, and it did.”

In July, he wrote on 𝕏 that “The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

On Sunday evening, several prominent voices in the Republican Party joined the government’s criticism.

Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley wrote on 𝕏 that “Britain, Canada, and Australia are caving to Hamas by pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state. It’s a shame our allies are more concerned about pleasing Hamas than releasing the hostages and ending the war.”

“Recognition of a ‘State of Palestine’ is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists,” [US] House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-Fla.) said in an official statement.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) slammed the “so-called civilized world” for rewarding Hamas, which he called “modern day religious Nazis,” with an “arbitrary Palestinian state designation.”

“To those Western leaders who embrace this, I do not believe you are antisemitic, just shockingly ignorant and blind to what you are doing. Western Democracies recognizing a mythical Palestinian state – one without leaders, one without borders, one without a capital and one without accommodations for Israel’s security – is truly rewarding the largest slaughter of Jews since WWII.”

Graham noted that terror supporters across the world would now celebrate Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas invasion, as “Liberation Day.”

“Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and the Houthis do not wish for two states. They wish to destroy the Jewish people and drive Israel into the sea, their words not mine.”