The UK will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September unless Israel abides by a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution, the government has announced. The decision was made at an emergency cabinet meeting called amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the move was necessary because the goal of a two-state solution was under unprecedented threat. Israel must take substantive steps to end the situation in Gaza, reach a ceasefire, and commit to no annexation in the West Bank as part of an eight-point peace plan backed by allies.
The Israeli government condemned the announcement, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posting on X that it rewarded “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism” and warned that a jihadist state on Israel’s border would threaten Britain. The UK also repeated its demands for Hamas to release all hostages, disarm, and accept no role in Gaza’s government.
Domestically, the Liberal Democrats and Greens criticised the government for using recognition as a bargaining chip, arguing that recognition should be immediate. The UK’s roadmap follows discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and a meeting with US President Donald Trump, who signalled no objection to the UK’s position.
