Britain and Portugal are expected to recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, ahead of a pivotal week at the UN's gathering where a suite of nations are set to do the same to pressure Israel over Gaza.

World leaders will gather for a key debate at the UN General Assembly in New York City this week where the so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be front and center.

Around 10 nations are expected to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming days, with the BBC, reporting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would announce the policy shift on Sunday – over fierce Israeli objection.

Starmer had said in July that Britain would formally recognize the State of Palestine if Israel failed to make "substantive steps" towards a ceasefire with Hamas by the time the UN General Assembly convened.

Portugal will recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel said in a statement on Friday. The Official Declaration of Recognition will take place even before next week's High-Level Conference, it added.

France and Canada are among the other Western nations planning to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN gathering in the coming week.

Israel has strongly opposed the moves and has reportedly threatened to take over the West Bank in response.

A growing number of longtime Israeli allies have shifted positions in recent months as Israel has intensified its Gaza offensive, triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel in 2023.

The besieged Palestinian territory has suffered widespread destruction, death and food shortages that have resulted in a major humanitarian crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP on Friday that the world "should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation" from Israel.

(With input from Reuters and AFP)