UK recognises Palestinian state amid international backlash

Britain formally recognised a Palestinian state on Thursday, a largely symbolic step intended to signal support for a two-state solution and to align with Western partners. The move places London among a small group of Western capitals weighing a shift in formal recognition as part of a broader diplomatic push aimed at reviving international momentum toward a peace framework in the Middle East.

The decision, coordinated with Canada, Australia and Portugal, and with France expected to follow, drew swift rebuke from Israel and from U.S. officials who described it as performative and as a potential reward for Hamas terrorism. The international response underscored divisions over how to advance a durable peace while addressing humanitarian needs and regional security concerns.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is attending United Nations meetings in New York, argued the move was meant to keep alive the prospect of a Palestinian state and to advance a framework for peace in the Middle East. "We have been clear, and I have been clear to the Israeli foreign minister, we have been clear to the Israeli government, that they must not do that," Cooper told the BBC from New York. "This decision that we are taking is about the best way to respect the security for Israel as well as the security for Palestinians. It's about protecting peace and justice and crucially security for the Middle East and we will continue to work with everyone across the region in order to be able to do that." The government said the recognition would be accompanied by efforts at the UN General Assembly to build international backing for a peace framework, including transitional governance and security measures intended to ensure Hamas has no role in Gaza's future governance.

The United States echoed concerns about performative gestures. A State Department official said Washington's focus remained on serious diplomacy, not symbolic moves, with priorities including the release of hostages and the security of Israel. Secretary of State representatives stressed that diplomacy and concrete steps toward a two-state arrangement should not be substituted by symbolic recognitions that could complicate on-the-ground efforts to end the crisis in Gaza.

Britain acknowledged that recognizing a Palestinian state would not directly alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to the freeing of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move as absurd and a reward for terrorism, insisting that Israel would accelerate West Bank settlement activity and arguing the recognition undermines security. He used the biblical term Judea and Samaria to describe areas where he said settlements would continue to expand, signaling a continuation of a long-running policy dispute with the Palestinian leadership and its international supporters.

Among those weighing in on the fallout were families of hostages and Hamas officials. Families of hostages held in Gaza described the move as a betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity. A senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, reportedly hailed the move as a victory for the justice of their cause, illustrating the sharpened rhetorical lines surrounding the decision and the potential for heightened regional tensions.

Opposition and domestic politics also shaped the coverage. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Hamas was a brutal terror organisation and signaled plans to ratchet up sanctions on the group; he argued Britain should use its position to press for accountability while not undermining efforts to achieve a two-state outcome. Critics in the Liberal Democrat camp, including leader Sir Ed Davey, said Starmer’s absence at the UN summit would be interpreted as a missed opportunity to shape the international response, urging the Prime Minister to engage more actively in the diplomacy.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is slated to represent the UK at the United Nations General Assembly, alongside Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, highlighting the cross-party emphasis on coordinating Britain’s stance at the global table. The government has framed the trip as part of broader efforts to secure international consensus on a peace framework that addresses governance, security guarantees, and humanitarian relief in Gaza while limiting Hamas influence in any future arrangement.

France is expected to follow suit later, and other Western allies have indicated they are watching closely for how the UK’s move translates into momentum at the UN. The consensus-building effort is designed to complement ongoing diplomacy rather than replace on-the-ground negotiations that will determine the viability of a two-state outcome.

In context, the British decision reflects a long-running debate about how to pursue peace in the region while balancing security concerns and humanitarian obligations. The government argues that formal recognition could help unlock diplomatic support and lay groundwork for a transition that excludes Hamas from any future governance role. Critics warn that symbolic steps risk legitimizing a process without guaranteeing tangible improvements for civilians in Gaza or a credible path toward the release of hostages. The UN General Assembly session represents a key stage in testing whether international consensus can be built around a framework that would advance peace and security in the Middle East.

France and other allies have signaled a willingness to align with similar moves if they believe a credible framework for transition and security arrangements is in place. If the wave of recognitions gains sufficient momentum, it could influence later decisions in other capitals and affect the pace at which the international community negotiates a comprehensive peace plan that seeks to end the conflict and deliver a viable, two-state solution. The coming weeks will be pivotal as diplomats seek to translate symbolic gestures into concrete measures that improve security for Israelis and Palestinians alike while ensuring that any future governance structure in Gaza is insulated from Hamas influence and control.