UK to Recognize Palestinian State: A Shift in Foreign Policy

Wed Oct 22 2025 17:40:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant political move, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce the country's official recognition of a Palestinian state, marking a potential pivot in British foreign diplomacy.

On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer will declare the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state, following demands for change in light of rising tensions and humanitarian crises in Gaza. The announcement is expected to face backlash from both Israeli officials and some UK political figures.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

The move comes after the prime minister stated in July that the UK would adjust its stance in September unless Israel met established conditions, including a ceasefire in Gaza and a commitment to a long-term, sustainable peace deal leading to a two-state solution.

This decision represents a significant change in British foreign policy, which previously maintained that such recognition should occur as part of a broader peace process and at a time of maximum impact.

The announcement has drawn strong condemnation from the Israeli government, hostage families, and several Conservative MPs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the potential recognition, equating it to rewarding terrorism. In contrast, UK ministers argue that there is a moral responsibility to act and maintain hope for a long-term peace agreement.

Amid worsening conditions in Gaza, which the prime minister described as 'intolerable,' government officials highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis impacting the Palestinian population.

Recent events, such as a UN commission concluding that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, have intensified discussions around statehood.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary David Lammy expressed that the recognition was driven by the expansion of Israeli settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law and threaten the viability of a Palestinian state.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed the UK's recognition pledge, but Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch led calls for caution, suggesting that recognition without the release of hostages would reward terrorism.

The UK government is expected to pursue avenues to sanction Hamas in the coming weeks, amidst growing political pressure from within the Labour Party advocating for a tougher stance on Israel.

As the announcement approaches, the reaction from both the international community and within the UK remains mixed, reflecting deeply entrenched divisions over the Israel-Palestine conflict.