LONDON, Sept 21: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce the United Kingdom’s recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday, the BBC reported.
The decision follows his July pledge that Britain would alter its stance by September if Israel failed to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and commit to a viable two-state solution.
According to the BBC, government sources said Israel had not met those conditions and the humanitarian situation in Gaza had deteriorated sharply. Ministers pointed to images of starvation, mass displacement, and widespread violence, which Starmer has called intolerable.
The BBC says the decision represents a significant shift in British foreign policy. For decades, successive governments maintained that recognition should come only at the point of maximum impact within a negotiated peace process.
UK to recognise Palestinian state ahead of UN debate
Israel has criticised the move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning it “rewards terror,” the BBC said. Families of hostages held by Hamas have also appealed to Starmer to delay recognition until all remaining captives are freed. In an open letter seen by the BBC, they argued the announcement had complicated efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Ministers told the BBC that settlement expansion in the West Bank was a decisive factor, citing projects such as E1, which critics say would destroy the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Justice Secretary David Lammy said the move reflected Britain’s duty to keep hopes for peace alive.
The BBC reports that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK’s plan during a visit to London earlier this month. Downing Street said both leaders agreed Hamas should have no future role in governing Gaza.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC she supports a two-state solution but warned that recognition without hostage releases risks encouraging militancy.
The BBC added that ministers are preparing new sanctions on Hamas, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Starmer had set a deadline for Israel to take “substantive steps” before the UN General Assembly session this week, according to the BBC. He said the UK would act now that the two-state solution is under threat.
The BBC notes that several other countries, including France, Canada, and Portugal, have signalled similar steps, while Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognised Palestine last year. Currently, around three-quarters of UN member states recognise Palestinian statehood, though it remains largely symbolic because Palestine lacks agreed borders, a capital, and an army.
The BBC also reported that recognition has long been supported by many in the Labour Party. More than half of Labour MPs signed a letter earlier this year urging the government to act.
If confirmed, the BBC says the announcement will mark one of the most consequential UK foreign policy shifts in years and could reshape diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.
