London (TDI): The United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK will be recognizing the Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.
Keir Starmer further said that the Israeli Prime Minister has to meet some other set conditions as well, which include a permanent ceasefire, commitment to peace and stability for the long run, a two-state solution, and allowing the United Nations to send aid into Gaza; otherwise UK will take the step of recognizing Palestine at the General Assembly in September.
UK government previously made a statement that recognition of a Palestinian state should come at a point when there is a maximum impact as part of the peace process.
Today at the @UN I set out the UK’s intention to recognise the State of Palestine in September. 1/3 https://t.co/nAsIlqRoLb
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 29, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X in response to Britain saying, “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism.”
Recently, the French President Emmanuel Macron also announced to recognize the Palestinian State in September at the General Assembly and urged the UK during his visit there to work with France in recognizing the State of Palestine, and called it the only and sole path to peace.
Speaking to media, UK Prime Minister said that he is announcing this plan now because of the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and concern that “the very possibility of a two-state solution is reducing.”
He also told the media that the UK’s goal of a safe, secure Israel alongside a sovereign Palestinian state is continuously under threat and “under pressure like never before.” He also said that the UK’s primary aim was to improve the situation in Gaza and ensure the supply of enough aid.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the government’s announcement as “a crucial step” but urged the PM to recognize a Palestinian state immediately, and pursue “far greater action to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.”
Read More: Dar Calls Palestine a ‘Test Case’ for Global Justice at UN Summit
He added: “Rather than use recognition, which should have taken place many months ago, as a bargaining chip, the prime minister should be applying pressure on Israel by fully ceasing arms sales, and implementing sanctions against the Israeli cabinet.”
This decision came as the UK government was pressured by its MPs, as 255 of them signed a letter calling for their government to recognize the state of Palestine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that his government has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state soon.
Spain, Ireland, and Norway took the step of recognizing a Palestinian state last year to put pressure on Israel.
As Keir Starmer made his announcement of recognizing Palestine, Foreign Secretary David Lammy in New York addressed a UN conference, where he supported a two-state solution as the only path to peace and lasting stability.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
