Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK's formal recognition of a Palestinian state, marking a significant change in government policy aimed at keeping alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution amidst the escalating horror in the Middle East. This decision aligns the UK with Australia, Canada, and Portugal, which also formally recognized the state of Palestine, with France and Belgium expected to follow suit. The announcement coincides with an annual UN General Assembly meeting, intended to build new momentum for a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine would coexist within secure, recognized borders.

The move comes as the situation on the ground in Gaza has worsened significantly, characterized by widespread starvation, devastation, and the deaths of tens of thousands of people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Sir Keir had previously set a deadline for Israel to take substantive steps to end the appalling situation, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term peace, which were not met. The UK also highlighted the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law, as a key factor in the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.

The Foreign Office clarified that UK recognition means acknowledging Palestinian statehood over provisional borders, based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, with a shared capital in Jerusalem. These details are to be finalized as part of future negotiations. Furthermore, the UK will establish full diplomatic relations, including the presence of a Palestinian ambassador in London and a British counterpart in Palestine. It was stressed that the UK will continue to deal with the Palestinian Authority and not Hamas, with Sir Keir reiterating that Hamas can have 'no future, no role in government, no role in security'.

The decision has drawn fierce criticism, particularly from the Israeli government and families of hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the recognition as 'absurd' and 'a huge reward to terrorism', asserting that a Palestinian state 'will not happen' and that Israel intends to continue expanding settlements in the West Bank. The US government also echoed concerns, stating that recognition without conditions acts as a diplomatic gift for Hamas following its attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Relatives of British-Israeli hostages, such as Mandy Damari and Ian Brisley, labeled Sir Keir 'delusional' and accused the UK of 'rewarding terrorism', while the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK condemned it as a 'betrayal of humanity'.

Sir Keir, however, insisted the decision 'is not a reward for Hamas', emphasizing that it is 'the exact opposite of their hateful vision' and a 'pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future'. He reaffirmed that the UK had already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas and would continue to sanction further figures. Domestically, the move garnered strong opposition from some Conservatives, with Kemi Badenoch calling it 'absolutely disastrous', and criticism from Labour Friends of Israel, which suggested it wouldn't change the reality on the ground and gave up a diplomatic lever. Conversely, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decision as a step towards peaceful coexistence, and Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Authority’s UK representative, called it an 'inalienable right'. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also welcomed it as 'long overdue'. Hamas, while welcoming the recognition as an 'important step', demanded accompanying 'practical measures' leading to an 'immediate end' to the war.

Despite the symbolic nature of the recognition—given that a state of Palestine currently lacks internationally agreed boundaries, a capital, or an army, and the Palestinian Authority does not have full control over its land—the UK government maintains its importance. UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged that it wouldn't directly address humanitarian aid or free hostages, but stressed that 'now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution'. He emphasized that 'Hamas is not the Palestinian people'. The recognition is viewed as a critical step to safeguard the prospect of a lasting two-state solution, ensuring Israel’s security and meeting the legitimate demand of the Palestinian people for self-determination and national sovereignty, even as challenges such as the role of Hamas and Israeli annexation intentions persist.