British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will officially recognise a Palestinian state, marking a turning point more than 108 years after the Balfour Declaration paved the way for a Jewish homeland in Palestine and 77 years after the establishment of Israel.
“In the face of the escalating tragedy in the Middle East, we are acting to preserve the prospect of peace and the vision of a two-state solution,” Starmer said in a video address on Sunday.
For decades, successive British governments maintained that recognition should come at a time of “maximum impact.” That stance began shifting in July, when London declared it would reconsider its approach if Israel failed to end its military campaign in Gaza, engage in a genuine peace process, and allow greater humanitarian access to the enclave.
Instead, the humanitarian disaster has deepened. Gaza City has been devastated by Israel’s ongoing offensive, with widespread destruction, starvation, and mass displacement among the population. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli raids and settler violence continue alongside plans to expand settlements, undermining prospects for a viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The UK’s recognition follows similar decisions by Canada and Australia just days ahead of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where Palestinian sovereignty and decades of Israeli occupation are expected to dominate the debate.
