The United Kingdom is preparing to formally recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to make the announcement after concluding that the humanitarian and political situation has worsened sharply in recent weeks.
The decision comes ahead of the UN General Assembly and marks a decisive shift in UK foreign policy. Starmer had signalled in July that recognition would be conditional on Israel&rsquo;s actions. With no ceasefire in Gaza, continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and a deepening humanitarian crisis, the government has decided the conditions for restraint have not been met.
Starmer has emphasised that this move is not a concession to Hamas. The government insists the militant group will play no role in Gaza&rsquo;s future governance. Instead, recognition is being presented as a step to revive hopes for a two-state solution, which ministers fear is being undermined by escalating settler violence and construction projects such as the proposed E1 corridor.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to state that the recognition of a Palestinian state, it is a consequence of the serious expansion that we&rsquo;re seeing in the West Bank, the settler violence that we&rsquo;re seeing in the West Bank and the intention and indications that we&rsquo;re seeing to build, for example, the E1 development that would run a coach and horses through the possibility of a two-state solution.&rdquo;
Israel has meanwhile intensified its offensive in Gaza City, with overnight strikes reported to have killed at least 14 people. Thousands gathered in Israel on Saturday demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiate the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
The move has provoked a backlash from hostages&rsquo; families, who warned recognition risks hardening Hamas&rsquo;s stance and complicating negotiations. Opposition voices in the UK also criticised the government, with accusations that the decision is politically motivated.
Lammy added: &ldquo;In relation to what is happening in Gaza, we&rsquo;ve got to see the hostages out. There can be no place, no place at all for Hamas. The humanitarian situation is just desperate and we have continued to press Israel to deal with the scenes of malnourishment and starvation that we&rsquo;re seeing, to open up more sites to get more aid in to Gaza.&rdquo;
Currently, 147 of the UN&rsquo;s 193 member states already recognise Palestine. The UK&rsquo;s announcement will add momentum to global recognition efforts but will also deepen divides with Israel and its allies, including the United States, which has opposed the timing of the move.

Britain Poised to Recognise Palestine on Sunday

Starmer to confirm recognition as Gaza crisis deepens and West Bank tensions escalate

Britain Poised to Recognise Palestine on Sunday

Starmer to confirm recognition as Gaza crisis deepens and West Bank tensions escalate

September 21, 2025 | 12:50 IST