Starmer to Announce Historic UK Recognition of Palestinian State This Sunday

Sir Keir Starmer is anticipated to announce the United Kingdom’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement scheduled for Sunday afternoon. This significant shift follows the Prime Minister’s comments in July, indicating that the UK would alter its stance in September unless Israel met certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term sustainable peace deal that supports a two-state solution.

This announcement marks a notable change in British foreign policy, as previous governments maintained that recognition should occur as part of a peace process and at a time of maximum impact.

UK ministers argue there is a moral obligation to act in order to preserve the hope for a long-term peace agreement. Government sources have noted a significant deterioration in the situation on the ground in recent weeks, pointing to distressing images of starvation and violence in Gaza, which the Prime Minister has previously labeled as “intolerable.”

Israel’s recent ground operations in Gaza City have been described by a UN official as “cataclysmic,” resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands. Earlier this week, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Ministers also highlighted the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law, as a critical factor influencing the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood. Justice Secretary David Lammy, who was foreign secretary in July when the recognition path was outlined, referenced the controversial E1 settlement project, which critics argue jeopardizes the prospect of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state. He stated, “The recognition of a Palestinian state is a consequence of the serious expansion we’re seeing in the West Bank, the settler violence, and the indications of development like E1 that threaten the two-state solution.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK’s pledge for recognition during a meeting with Sir Keir earlier this month, with Downing Street noting that both leaders agreed Hamas should not play a role in the future governance of Palestine. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her desire for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Sir Keir had set a deadline aligned with the UN General Assembly meeting, occurring this week, for Israel to take “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace that revives the prospect of a two-state solution.”

In July, he stated, “I’ve always said we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution. With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”

Several other countries, including Portugal, France, Canada, and Australia, have also announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, while Spain, Ireland, and Norway took this step last year. Currently, Palestine is recognized by approximately 75% of the UN’s 193 member states.

The two-state solution envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel currently occupies both regions, leaving the Palestinian Authority without full control over its territory or population. The recognition of a Palestinian state has long been a cause supported by many within the Labour Party, and the Prime Minister has faced increasing pressure to adopt a firmer stance on Israel, especially from left-leaning MPs within his party. Just before his speech in July, over half of Labour MPs signed a letter urging the government to immediately recognize a Palestinian state.

Government sources maintained that their demands for Hamas to release the hostages and agree to a ceasefire had not changed, yet officials within the Foreign Office argued that statehood is a right of the Palestinian people and should not be contingent upon Hamas, which the government classifies as a terrorist organization. During a meeting with President Trump at Chequers, Sir Keir reiterated that Hamas could play “no part” in any future Palestinian state.