The United Kingdom has formally recognised the State of Palestine, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a video statement, joining Canada and Australia in a coordinated policy shift intended to reinvigorate prospects for a two-state solution.
“In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two‑state solution,” Starmer said. “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two‑state solution, I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.” He added the recognition “is not a reward for Hamas,” saying it would preclude the group from any future role in governance or security.
Canada became the first G7 country to recognise Palestinian statehood earlier in the day, and Australia said it was following suit as part of “an international effort for a two‑state solution.” Officials said the three recognitions aim to revive diplomacy after months of intense violence in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Starmer framed the move as a moral and strategic response to the crisis in Gaza. He described “starvation and devastation” in the Strip as “utterly intolerable,” urged the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas, and called on Israel to lift restrictions at Gaza’s border to allow significantly more humanitarian aid to enter. Israel has previously denied that it is imposing restrictions on aid movements.
The announcement drew mixed reactions. In Ramallah, the administrative heart of the occupied West Bank, residents expressed cautious optimism. “It’s wonderful,” said Mohammad Hasib, 30. “We hope that all European countries will follow and recognise our state so we can stop this war.” Others, however, warned recognition could prompt harsher Israeli measures in the West Bank, including accelerated settlement construction or moves toward annexation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously criticised moves toward recognition of Palestinian statehood, arguing such steps “reward Hamas terror” and harden the group’s position. Families of people still held hostage in Gaza have voiced alarm as well. In an open letter to Starmer, some families warned recognition “complicates efforts to bring home our loved ones.”
The diplomatic developments come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. Israeli forces said they intercepted two projectiles fired from northern Gaza, and reports indicate continued ground operations around Gaza City. Starmer said the UK has increased humanitarian support but that “nowhere near enough aid is getting through.”
The UK joins more than 150 states that already recognise Palestine, but the move marks a significant reversal for one of the world’s major Western powers and could reshape diplomatic dynamics around the Israel‑Palestine conflict. Officials in London said the recognition is intended to be a step toward renewed negotiations and a “viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel,” while explicitly rejecting any implication that the decision rewards militant groups.
