UK to formally recognise Palestine as a state after Trump leaves UK visit

The United Kingdom plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state over the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, following Donald Trump’s state visit. The plan would come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month if Israel does not meet a set of humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Starmer indicated the recognition could be announced after Trump leaves Britain to avoid overshadowing a joint news conference.

The move would mark a shift in British policy, but the government has tied recognition to conditions: a ceasefire in Gaza, a negotiated two-state solution, and an end to West Bank annexation. Starmer signaled in July that recognition would be conditional, and the government says it would proceed if those aims are not met, while aiming to keep the policy separate from immediate policy changes.

The United States opposes official recognition of Palestine, complicating transatlantic diplomacy as world leaders prepare for the UN assembly. Despite that, other nations including France, Australia, and Canada have said they plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN gathering. In London, Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, for the first time described the Gaza crisis as genocide, telling a public audience that images of starving children and a collapsed health system illustrate such a charge. The comments add domestic pressure on Labour ahead of the UN gathering and could complicate Starmer’s meetings with Trump later this week.

On Tuesday, a UN commission said there were reasonable grounds to conclude Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The finding adds to international pressure ahead of the UN summit. Starmer’s July pledge to recognise Palestine’s statehood remains conditioned on ensuring a ceasefire, a two-state solution, and halting annexation. Those terms appear unlikely to be met given the Israeli government’s stance and the ongoing Gaza offensive.

Israel is currently undertaking a major ground offensive in Gaza, with thousands displaced from Gaza City in recent days. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated as aid access and supplies remain constrained, fueling international concern ahead of the UN gathering. As the summit approaches, diplomacy in London and capitals around the world is intensifying, with British officials seeking to shape the agenda on statehood recognition while balancing ongoing security concerns.

The broader backdrop is a rift between London and Washington over Palestinian recognition. Some Western allies have moved toward recognition at the UN, while the United States remains opposed. If carried forward, the British decision could influence discussions on humanitarian access and a path to peace, signaling a more assertive European stance on Palestinian statehood.