Washington, D.C., August 1, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly criticized the recent moves by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada to recognize the state of Palestine, labeling the efforts as “irrelevant” and “counterproductive.”
In an interview with Fox News Radio, Rubio stated that such diplomatic gestures hold no real weight without Israel’s agreement.
“It’s annoying to some, but ultimately irrelevant. It means nothing,” Rubio said, referring to the recognition declarations made by these Western nations.
He emphasized that a Palestinian state cannot come into existence without Israel’s consent:
“There can’t be a Palestinian state if Israel doesn’t agree. Secondly, these countries can’t even tell you where this state would be located. They can’t tell you who would govern it. And third, I believe it’s counterproductive.”
Rubio went further to claim that these recognition moves could embolden Hamas and disincentivize the group from agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Rubio, the real motive behind these recognitions lies in domestic politics:
“Some of these countries are responding to internal political pressure from large segments of their electorate, aligning with this position regardless of geopolitical consequences.”
The statement adds to growing tensions between the U.S. and several of its allies amid ongoing debates surrounding the Gaza conflict and the future of Palestinian statehood.
