UK To Recognise Palestine As Independent State By September Unless Israel Agrees To Gaza Ceasefire.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, that the United Kingdom will formally recognise Palestine as an independent state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless Israel takes significant steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process. The decision, described as a response to the “intolerable” humanitarian crisis in Gaza, marks a pivotal shift in British foreign policy and follows intense domestic and international pressure.
Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street after an emergency cabinet meeting, Starmer outlined the conditions Israel must meet to avert UK recognition of Palestinian statehood. These include agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, halting any annexation plans in the West Bank, and allowing the United Nations to resume unrestricted humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. “The situation is simply intolerable,” Starmer said, referencing images of starving children and a death toll exceeding 60,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. “The very idea of a two-state solution feels further away than ever, and we must act to preserve it.”
The announcement follows a similar pledge by French President Emmanuel Macron, who confirmed France’s intention to recognise Palestine in September, making it the first G7 nation to do so. Starmer’s decision, developed in coordination with France and Germany, reflects growing European frustration with Israel’s actions in Gaza, where a UN-backed report has warned of a “worst-case scenario of famine.” The UK has also demanded that Hamas release all hostages, disarm, and accept no role in Gaza’s future governance.
Israel’s government swiftly condemned the move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it a “reward for Hamas” and a threat to Israel’s security. Israel’s foreign ministry echoed this, stating on social media that the UK’s shift “harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages.” Conversely, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcement, describing it as a step towards correcting a “historic injustice,” according to the Wafa news agency.
Starmer’s decision comes amid mounting pressure from within his Labour Party, with over 250 MPs, including a third of his cabinet, urging recognition of Palestine. Public outrage in the UK has grown over images of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with 27% of young children and pregnant women reported malnourished. The UK has recently airdropped aid into Gaza and allowed limited land deliveries, but Starmer stressed that at least 500 aid trucks daily are needed to avert starvation.
While Britain has long supported a two-state solution, it has historically tied Palestinian state recognition to direct negotiations. Critics, including the Liberal Democrats and Greens, argue that making recognition conditional is misguided, with some calling for immediate action. Others, such as former US peace negotiator Aaron David Miller, described the move as “virtue signalling” that may limit Britain’s leverage in future talks.
The US response has been mixed. President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, said he did not mind Starmer’s position but was focused on “getting people fed.” However, the US State Department called the UK’s stance a “slap in the face” for victims of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 taken hostage.
With 149 countries already recognising Palestine, UK and French recognition would raise this to 151. Though largely symbolic without a UN resolution—likely to be vetoed by the US—the move could increase diplomatic pressure on Israel. As September approaches, the UK’s decision signals a bold step towards reshaping the Middle East peace process, with Starmer insisting that “no one should have a veto” over Britain’s commitment to a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
