UK Formally Recognises State of Palestine, Says PM Keir Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom has officially recognised the State of Palestine, marking a historic shift in British foreign policy and adding momentum to global calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

In a statement posted on X, accompanied by a longer video message, Starmer said the decision was taken to “revive the hope of peace” amid mounting violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” he said.

The prime minister stressed that the recognition was not symbolic, but a step towards ensuring that both Israel and Palestine could one day exist side by side in peace.

“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. That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment, we have neither,” he continued.

Starmer also appealed to the human cost of the conflict, stating: “Ordinary people, Israeli and Palestinian, deserve to live in peace. To try to rebuild their lives free from violence and suffering. That’s what the British people desperately want to see.”

The move has already drawn global attention, with international observers noting that it could influence other Western allies to take similar steps.

Background

For decades, the question of Palestinian statehood has been one of the most divisive issues in international politics. The UK has previously supported the principle of a two-state solution but stopped short of formal recognition.

UN Recognition Attempts: In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly granted Palestine “non-member observer state” status, a symbolic step that Britain abstained from supporting.

European Recognition Trend: In recent years, several European countries—including Sweden, Norway, and Ireland—have recognised Palestine, though many major Western powers, including the US, France, and Germany, have not.

UK’s Historical Role: Britain’s legacy in the Middle East, dating back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate for Palestine, has often placed it at the centre of debates on Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Conflict Context: The recognition comes against the backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank, worsening humanitarian conditions, and failed peace negotiations over the past decade.

By making this announcement, Starmer becomes the first UK prime minister to formally acknowledge Palestine as a state, a decision likely to spark both praise and controversy within the UK and internationally.