UK formally recognises Palestinian state as part of push to revive two-state solution

The United Kingdom formally recognised the state of Palestine on Sunday, the first time Britain has extended such recognition, in a move the government says is designed to keep alive the prospect of a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would establish full diplomatic relations with a Palestinian state, including a Palestinian ambassador in London and a British counterpart in Palestine.

The announcement was timed to coincide with the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, where leaders from other countries, including France and Belgium, were expected to follow suit. The UN is scheduled to hold a summit on Monday to revive the idea of a two-state solution in which Israel and a Palestinian state would coexist within secure, recognized borders.

The Foreign Office said the Palestinian state would be based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, with final borders to be determined through negotiations. Officials also said there would be a shared capital in Jerusalem, with the exact arrangements to be worked out in talks.

The move is widely seen as symbolic rather than a guarantee of immediate peace or the creation of a viable state. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged that recognition would not by itself deliver a peace deal or resolve all security concerns. Britain will continue to deal with the Palestinian Authority and said Hamas would have no role in government or security.

Officials stressed that the recognition does not amount to endorsing any particular political outcome inside the Palestinian territories. Starmer emphasized that statehood is not a reward for Hamas and that the terror group could not participate in governance or security arrangements under the UK framework.

The government also indicated that its decision would not alter Britain’s core approach to Israel’s security needs and regional stability. A Foreign Office update to its website references Palestine rather than the Occupied Palestinian Territories, signaling a formal shift in language accompanying the policy change.

In July, Starmer pledged that recognition would come this month unless Israel met a set of conditions, including ending the blockade and “the appalling situation” in Gaza and committing to a ceasefire. The Gaza crisis has persisted, complicating regional diplomacy and prolonging suffering for civilians on both sides.

Analysts described the move as a shift in tone and policy that could influence diplomacy at the United Nations and beyond, even if it stops short of delivering immediate statehood or a breakthrough on the ground. The UK’s stance aligns with a broader European conversation about the viability of a two-state framework, though opponents argue that recognizing Palestine too early could complicate negotiations with Israel and other regional partners.

For now, Britain’s recognition places its stance in line with other international voices that continue to advocate for a negotiated solution in which Israel and a Palestinian state emerge side by side within agreed borders. It also triggers practical changes, with a Palestinian ambassador expected in London and a British ambassador anticipated in Palestinian territories, marking a new level of formal diplomatic engagement.