The United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes concrete steps toward a lasting peace.
This decision was announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a rare summertime Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. Starmer emphasized that the UK will support Palestinian statehood ahead of the United Nations General Assembly if Israel fails to meet a set of conditions.
The conditions set by Starmer include ending the ongoing military operations in Gaza, halting plans for annexation in the West Bank, and committing to a peace process aimed at a two-state solution. “Unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution, Britain will proceed with recognition,” Starmer told the Cabinet.
The UK’s decision comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September. This move has put pressure on other countries to follow suit, with the UK now considering recognition if Israel does not take steps towards peace.
The UK has historically backed the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but official recognition has until now been tied to the outcome of direct negotiations. However, momentum toward unilateral recognition has grown, and the UK’s decision marks a significant shift in its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.