The United Kingdom has formally recognised the state of Palestine in what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described as a decisive and historic step to preserve the possibility of peace in the Middle East and keep alive the vision of a two-state solution.
Starmer, in a video address posted on X (formerly Twitter), framed the decision as an urgent response to the spiraling humanitarian and political crisis in the region. “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution,” he said.
The prime minister was careful to stress that Britain’s recognition of Palestine was not an endorsement of Hamas, the militant group that launched a deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. “This is not a reward for Hamas,” Starmer declared. “Hamas will have no future, no role in government, no role in security.” Instead, he positioned the decision as a pledge to both Palestinians and Israelis that “there can be a better future.”
A Step Toward a Two-State Solution
Starmer’s announcement comes at a volatile time, as the war in Gaza continues with devastating consequences. He condemned the “starvation and devastation” being inflicted on Gaza’s population, describing the scale of death and destruction as “utterly intolerable” and a moral challenge for the international community.
The United Kingdom now joins a growing coalition of countries – including Australia, Canada, and Portugal – that have formally recognised a Palestinian state. France is widely expected to follow suit in the coming days, further amplifying momentum for international recognition.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described his country’s decision as offering “partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future.” Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called recognition “part of a co-ordinated effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution,” while Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel emphasised that the two-state solution remained “the only path to a just and lasting peace.”
Sharp Reactions from Israel and the United States
Unsurprisingly, the decision provoked fierce opposition from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected outright the idea of Palestinian statehood, declaring that it “will not happen.” He accused the UK and its allies of “giving a huge reward to terrorism.”
Both Israeli and US officials echoed the argument that recognition risked handing Hamas a political victory following its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 others taken hostage. Washington warned that unilateral recognition could complicate peace talks and undermine Israel’s security concerns.
Nevertheless, Starmer defended the timing of the move, insisting that recognition was essential to preventing the two-state solution from collapsing under the weight of ongoing conflict and mutual mistrust.
Palestinian Authority Welcomes the Move
The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by President Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed the British decision. Abbas said the recognition would help pave the way for a future in which “the state of Palestine can live side by side with the state of Israel in security, peace and good neighbourliness.”
According to the UK’s Foreign Office, Britain’s recognition extends to provisional borders based on the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed land swaps to be finalised in future negotiations. The model aligns with long-standing international proposals envisioning an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Symbolism and Practical Challenges
While about 75 percent of United Nations member states already recognise Palestine, such recognition has so far remained largely symbolic, as Palestine lacks internationally defined borders, a functioning capital, or a standing army. Critics argue that recognition without a binding peace process risks deepening frustrations and fueling further instability.
Nonetheless, proponents contend that recognition helps to strengthen moderate Palestinian leaders and provides a counterweight to Hamas by signalling that peaceful engagement, not violence, can yield political results.
Starmer presented the move as a moral imperative as well as a diplomatic strategy. “This is a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future,” he said, describing the recognition as both a message of hope and a call to renewed negotiations.
A Growing International Trend
The UK’s decision reflects a broader trend of major Western nations reassessing their positions on Palestinian statehood amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. France has already signaled its intention to follow the UK, while Portugal, Canada, and Australia have formally recognised Palestine in recent weeks.
Diplomatic sources suggest that momentum is building toward wider European recognition, even in the face of staunch Israeli and American opposition. Observers note that recognition by larger powers carries greater political weight than previous recognitions by smaller nations, which Israel and the US had often dismissed.
Netanyahu’s Defiance and Regional Tensions
Israel’s response has not been limited to rhetoric. Israeli officials have suggested that new annexations in parts of the occupied West Bank could be considered as retaliation, alongside measures aimed at punishing states that move to recognise Palestine.
The announcement also comes against the backdrop of intensifying violence in Gaza and the West Bank, where Israel has escalated military operations. Settler violence in Palestinian territories has also risen, drawing international concern that the window for a two-state solution is rapidly closing.
Peace Process at a Standstill
The recognition comes despite stalled peace efforts. Ceasefire talks have repeatedly collapsed, with the most recent round ending abruptly after an Israeli air strike targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar. The incident underscored the depth of mistrust between the parties and the fragility of international mediation efforts.
Starmer had earlier set a deadline of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly for recognition unless Israel made “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace.” His announcement suggests that London had given up hope of Israeli concessions in the immediate term.
A Defining Moment
For Britain, the recognition marks a dramatic shift in foreign policy and places it among a growing bloc of Western nations willing to challenge Israel’s narrative that Palestinian statehood rewards terrorism.
Whether the decision will revive peace talks or deepen divisions remains to be seen. But for Starmer, the move is a defining moment of his premiership – a statement that Britain is prepared to act decisively on the international stage in pursuit of peace, even amid fierce opposition.
