A wave of countries — including the United Kingdom, France, Portugal and Canada — are recognizing a Palestine state

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday international recognitions of Palestine are counterproductive.

“You’re really rewarding Hamas,” Trump said, mirroring opposition to Palestinian state voiced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas — which is still holding an estimated 20 living hostages in Gaza taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks — has written Trump offering an immediate release of half the remaining hostages for a 60-day ceasefire.

The Islamist group — which has ruled Gaza since 2007 — welcomed the Palestinian recognitions.

Trump and Netanyahu want all the Oct. 7 hostages released.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emanuel Macron all say they don’t want Hamas to be part of a future Palestinian state and that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Those leaders are upset with Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas after the latter’s Oct. 7 attacks.

Netanyahu and GOP allies in the U.S. disagree.

“Recognition of a ‘State of Palestine’ is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists,” said U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, a Florida Republican and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

A number of countries plan on giving national recognition to Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly.

All told, 158 of the UN’s 193 member states recognize a Palestinian state.

The. U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy are among the countries who have not recognized Palestine.

Much of of the international opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas and U.S. support for it are almost exclusively centered on support for the Palestinians and opposition to Netanyahu and Israel rather than aversion to war and bloodshed.

Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Trump’s envoy to Syria and Lebanon, said diplomatic recognition of Palestine from various countries at least shows some action at the UN but those moves are ultimately “useless” and doesn’t help the situation.

Barrack also told The National he feels peace in the Middle East and Holy Land is an illusion.

“The end game when we say peace. It’s an illusion,” Barrack told the outlet.

“There’s never been peace. There will probably never be peace because everybody’s fighting for legitimacy,” said Barrack, a longtime business associate of Trump.

“The end result is (that) somebody wants dominance, which means somebody has to submit,” Barrack continued.

“In that part of the world,

“There is no Arabic word for submit. They can’t wrap their head around submit,” he said.

That sparked criticism from Laura Loomer, a conservative commentator and influencer with close ties to Trump.

“I cannot believe my ears,” said Loomer, who took Barrack’s statements as dangerous for Christians and other religious minorities in the region.

“This is unacceptable. Someone should let Tom Barrack know that the reason why there is no Arabic word for submit is because Islam calls for the killing of all non-Muslims,” Loomer said.

She wants Barrack to resign.

Barrack, a wealthy businessman and real estate investor who once owned the Paris St. Germain. (PSG) soccer team, told The National the best path for peace in the Middle East is likely through economic prosperity.

US special envoy Tom Barrack gives his views on peace in the Middle East in an in-depth interview with IMI chief international anchor Hadley Gamble.

Check The National’s YouTube channel for the full interview after 6pm UAE time https://t.co/na7YRwxIrJ pic.twitter.com/FIQnSfrAGJ

— The National (@TheNationalNews) September 22, 2025