Breaking: UK Formally recognizes State of Palestine
The United Kingdom has officially recognized the state of Palestine, a move announced by Prime minister Sir keir Starmer. The decision comes amid escalating pressure for a tougher stance on Israel and renewed efforts too secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian representative to the UK, hailed the recognition as an “inalienable right” that would mean “ending the denial of our existence” and stated, “the British peopel should celebrate today, when history is being corrected.” He questioned why the UK hadn’t recognized Palestine sooner, asking, “the question is never why should the UK recognize the state of Palestine, the question is why didn’t the UK recognise the state of Palestine all along?”
The move has drawn sharply divided reactions within British politics. conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the recognition as “absolutely disastrous,” arguing it “reward[s] terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas.” Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel accused the prime minister of “capitulating to the hard-left factions of his party.” Conversely,Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the decision as “long overdue.”
The proclamation has also sparked emotional responses from families of hostages held in gaza. Mandy Damari, mother of former hostage Emily Damari, described Starmer as being under a “two-state delusion,” asserting the recognition rewards Hamas while hostages remain captive. An open letter signed by family members of the 48 hostages still in gaza-20 of whom are believed to be alive-warned the step would “dramatically elaborate efforts to bring home our loved ones.”
Responding to concerns about the hostages, Lammy stated he had been in discussions with relatives and noted that “many hostage families” were “shocked and appalled that the prospects of a ceasefire have been set back just in the recent days.” He emphasized that “hamas is not the palestinian people.” starmer affirmed the UK’s existing proscription and sanctions against Hamas, and directed further sanctions against Hamas figures in the coming weeks.
Starmer had previously set a deadline for Israel to take “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution” by the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting next week.
Currently, approximately 75% of the UN’s 193 member states recognize Palestine, despite the lack of internationally agreed boundaries, a capital city, or a standing army, rendering the recognition largely symbolic. Recognition of a Palestinian state has long been a key objective for many within the labor party.
