Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom has officially recognised the State of Palestine, a landmark decision in British foreign policy that signals a stronger commitment to reviving hopes for peace in the Middle East.
In a statement posted on X, accompanied by a longer video message, Starmer said the move was aimed at breathing new life into the long-stalled peace process 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 declared.
Starmer stressed that the decision was not merely symbolic but a practical step towards keeping alive the vision of two states coexisting peacefully. He explained that while Israel must be safe and secure, Palestinians also deserve a viable state of their own, adding that “at the moment, we have neither.”
The prime minister also drew attention to the human suffering on both sides of the conflict. He said ordinary people in Israel and Palestine deserved the chance to rebuild their lives free from violence and suffering, a goal he noted the British people strongly support.
The announcement has immediately drawn international attention and is expected to influence debates across Western capitals, where questions of recognition and the viability of a two-state solution have remained contentious for years.
Background
The recognition of Palestine has long been a matter of heated international debate. For decades, the United Kingdom has supported the principle of a two-state solution but stopped short of formally recognising Palestinian statehood. In 2012, when the United Nations General Assembly voted to grant Palestine “non-member observer state” status, Britain abstained, reflecting its cautious approach.
Some European nations, including Sweden, Norway and Ireland, have recognised Palestine in recent years, while other major Western powers such as the United States, France and Germany have held back. The UK’s decision is particularly significant given its historical role in the region, dating back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration and its administration of the British Mandate for Palestine.
The move also comes at a time of renewed bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank, alongside deteriorating humanitarian conditions and repeated failures of peace negotiations over the past decade. By formally recognising Palestine, Starmer becomes the first British prime minister to take this step, positioning the UK at the centre of global diplomatic efforts and sparking both praise and controversy at home and abroad.
