UK recognises Palestinian state as Hamas hails 'victory'; Netanyahu condemns move
Starmer says recognition aims to revive two-state solution; Israel condemns it as appeasement as Western allies consider similar steps
Britain announced on Sunday that it would formally recognise a future Palestinian state, a decision Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer framed as essential to revive the chance for a two-state solution. In a speech meant to signal a shift in policy, Starmer said the United Kingdom would back a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with a shared capital in Jerusalem, while stressing that Hamas would play no role in any future Palestinian government. The move drew swift backlash from Israel and some US allies, who warned that recognition could destabilize the region and complicate hostage negotiations in Gaza.
Hamas promptly hailed the decision as a victory for its cause, saying the gesture represented the justice of its demands. The group argued that recognizing a Palestinian state would confer legitimacy on its aims and would alter the dynamics of the conflict. Israel’s leadership offered a sharply different assessment. Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the move as appeasement, telling partners and supporters that recognizing a Palestinian state after the October 7 attacks rewarded terrorism with an enormous prize and would not be allowed to stand. He indicated that Israel would respond to what he described as an attempt to impose a terror state in the heart of the region when he returns from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
France, Portugal and Belgium are expected to follow suit by recognizing Palestinian statehood at the summit this week, with Australia and Canada joining the UK in a broader Western alignment. Officials noted that some Foreign Office pages had already been updated to reference Palestine rather than the Occupied Palestinian Territories, signaling a shift in official language that could have diplomatic implications. The United States also voiced concerns about the timing and potential consequences for security and hostage negotiations, though Washington did not immediately veto the UK's move.
In London, the move drew a mix of support and condemnation. Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset, condemned Starmer as a "modern-day appeaser" who chose to honor a policy that Britain argues could pave the way to a two-state framework. May Golan, a minister in the Israeli government, argued that recognizing a Palestinian state now would legitimize a terror entity and would threaten Israel and the broader liberal world. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the decision did not advance a ceasefire, free hostages, or promote durable peace, warning that it could reduce pressure on Hamas and allow it to claim recognition as a consequence of its violence.
Beyond the Jewish community groups, victims’ associations voiced alarm. Adam Ma’anit, whose cousin Tsachi Idan was killed in attacks linked to the Gaza conflict, called the move a betrayal of hostages and their families. A separate statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK warned that recognizing a Palestinian state without a credible ceasefire would embolden Hamas.
Opposition and government critics framed the development through a domestic lens. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch labeled the step "absolutely disastrous" and argued it left hostages languishing in Gaza while doing nothing to alleviate civilian suffering. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel accused Starmer of capitulating to hard-left factions and said the gesture undermined any claim to moral authority. Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson argued the move had more to do with internal Labour Party politics than with a genuine peace process. Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove described the decision as diplomatically ridiculous and damaging, saying it appeared to offer Hamas a syllable of victory.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy conceded that recognizing a Palestinian state would not close the Gaza conflict or immediately secure the release of hostages. He told the BBC that while the move aimed to set conditions for a renewed peace process, tangible progress for civilians and for hostages would depend on a ceasefire and humanitarian relief.
The current decision follows a pledge Starmer made in July to recognise Palestinian statehood if Israel did not end the humanitarian crisis and devastation in Gaza. On Sunday, the government signaled a broader realignment with some European and North American partners who have indicated readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in the near term, highlighting a strategic shift in how the international community frames a path to peace in the Middle East.
As the UN General Assembly milieu looms and regional tensions simmer, the UK’s move places pressure on Jerusalem and Washington to adjust their positions. Israel warned that such recognitions could complicate its security calculus and the prospects for hostage releases, while European capitals weigh the consequences for stability, humanitarian access, and the broader viability of a two-state framework. The unfolding dynamic signals a significant recalibration of Western policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a moment when regional actors and international bodies are seeking ways to re-energize diplomacy and humanitarian relief.