Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Sunday welcomed the recognition of an independent State of Palestine by Britain, Canada and Australia.

In a post on his X account, Aboul-Gheit said the recognition "corrects a historical error that has persisted for years."

He added that the move also aligns with the demands of the people in those countries to support the Palestinian right to independence and to live with dignity.

"We anticipate more impactful international recognitions soon," he said.

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement that Britain "formally recognizes the State of Palestine," calling for a shift back to a two-state solution.

A joint statement by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "Australia recognizes the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement confirming Canada's recognition of the State of Palestine.

Portugal also recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday, according to the Lusa News Agency.

"Today, the Portuguese State officially recognizes the State of Palestine," Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel declared at the Portuguese UN mission in New York, emphasizing that the country believes a two-state solution is the "only path to peace."

"It is more than time to take the necessary steps for peace," Lusa News Agency quoted Rangel as saying. The minister added Portugal advocates for a ceasefire and opening borders for humanitarian aid. The announcement came as scheduled on the eve of the High-Level Conference on the two-state solution, organized by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN headquarters in New York.

The recognitions drew fury in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the countries of "giving a huge reward to terrorism."

"It will not happen, there will not be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River," he said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the recognitions as "constituting an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy," according to a statement by his office.

Explainer: Everything you need to know about the global campaign to recognize Palestine

(With input from Xinhua)