Japan’s prime minister tells the United Nations that Tokyo’s recognition of the State of Palestine is only a question of time, saying he was “indignant” at recent comments by Israeli officials.

The Palestine Liberation Organization declared an independent Palestinian state in 1988, and most of the global South quickly recognised it. Today, 147 of the 193 U.N. member states have done so - most recently Mexico, in January.

Emmanuel Macron is set to deliver his speech recognizing Palestine on September 22 at the UN headquarters in New York. In retaliation, Israel is considering closing the French consulate in Jerusalem and annexing part of the West Bank.

Canada now officially recognizes the state of Palestine and is doing so with international partners to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution, according to a statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney's office released Sunday morning.

The decision by four nations from the West, which has traditionally allied with Israel, aligned them with more than 140 other countries also backing Palestinians' aspiration to forge an independent homeland from the occupied territories.

The United Kingdom, Australia, Portugal and Canada have formally recognized Palestinian statehood, joining about 150 countries, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly this week, as France and five other states are also expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state on Monday.

France has joined several countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood, increasing pressure on Israel amid calls to end the war in Gaza. Palestinians living in Jerusalem react to the news.