Starmer recognises Palestinian state, drawing condemnation from Israel and allies

London — Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would formally support the creation of a Palestinian state, arguing the move is necessary to revive a path to a two-state solution and that Hamas would have no role in any Palestinian government. He stressed the action is not a reward for Hamas, but a step toward peace. Hamas quickly hailed the decision as a victory for its cause, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move as a betrayal and warned that recognition would amount to an “enormous prize” for Hamas and endanger Israel.

Netanyahu said calls for a Palestinian state would endanger Israel’s existence and described the recognition as an absurd reward for terrorism. He indicated Israel would outline its response after the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Several Western states are expected to recognise Palestinian statehood this week, including France, Portugal, Belgium, Australia and Canada, joining the United Kingdom.

Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset, called Starmer a “modern-day appeaser” who chose dishonour. May Golan, minister for social equality, told the Daily Mail that recognising a Palestinian state now would legitimise a terror entity and endanger Israel and the broader liberal world. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the move does not advance a ceasefire or the release of hostages and could undermine pressure on Hamas. Adam Ma’anit, the British cousin of murdered hostage Tsachi Idan, described the move as betrayal to hostages and their families, while the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK said Britain had emboldened Hamas.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the step “absolutely disastrous,” arguing it leaves hostages in Gaza and does nothing to stop civilian suffering. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel accused Starmer of capitulating to hard-left factions, and Lord Wolfson, the former shadow attorney general, said the move was about Labour Party politics rather than peace in the Middle East. Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove told Times Radio the decision was diplomatically ridiculous and made Hamas appear successful.

Starmer, who in July pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood if Israel did not end the “appalling situation” in Gaza, argued the move is not a reward for Hamas because it would deprive Hamas of any future role. He said the two-state solution should be based on pre-1967 borders with a shared capital in Jerusalem and announced fresh sanctions on Hamas. He condemned the humanitarian devastation in Gaza caused by Israeli bombardment while insisting the policy remains about long-term peace rather than short-term gains.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged that the decision will not end the Gaza conflict and that lengthy humanitarian aid and a ceasefire are prerequisites for meaningful relief. He told the BBC that whether children receive aid depends on a broader ceasefire and a shift in the wider conflict.

The weekend move also aligned the UK with a broader international debate on Palestinian statehood, as France, Portugal and Belgium prepared to recognise at the upcoming summit, following Australia and Canada’s decisions earlier in the day. It comes amid a long-running war in Gaza that has drawn international scrutiny over the balance between recognizing statehood, pressuring Hamas, and ensuring civilian relief.

In the broader context, supporters of recognition argue that it could reset fence-sitting states and bolster year-long negotiations toward a two-state framework, while opponents contended it could harden positions on the ground and complicate hostage negotiations. The change in policy also reflected a broader reevaluation of how Western powers engage with the Middle East amid ongoing violence and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with governments weighing their leverage against Hamas and their commitments to civilian protection and ceasefire.

Ultimately, the impact of the UK’s recognition on the Gaza conflict remains uncertain. Policymakers, hostage families, and international partners will monitor the coming days for any shifts in diplomacy, humanitarian aid delivery, or potential concessions from Hamas. As leaders respond to the evolving dynamic, the question remains whether a formal Palestinian state declaration could pave a path to peace or merely redraw the diplomatic map while the reality on the ground remains dire.