British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled that the United Kingdom will formally recognise the state of Palestine by September unless Israel takes concrete steps to end its military offensive in Gaza and recommits to a peaceful resolution.
The announcement followed an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where Starmer told ministers that the move may be made ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Recognition would be contingent on Israel agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, halting annexation plans in the occupied West Bank, and supporting a viable political process toward a two-state solution.
A government statement clarified that Starmer stressed there is "no equivalence between Israel and Hamas" and reiterated longstanding demands that Hamas must release all hostages, accept a ceasefire, disarm, and step away from governance in Gaza.
The Prime Minister cut short ministers’ summer recess to review a draft European-led peace proposal and strategies to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of an impending famine.
While previous UK administrations have expressed support for Palestinian statehood "when the time is right," none have tied it to such a firm timeline or listed specific conditions.
Mounting pressure from within the Labour Party appears to have influenced Starmer’s position. Over half of Labour’s backbench MPs have endorsed a letter calling for the UK to use Palestinian state recognition as diplomatic leverage to encourage Israel toward peace.
Defending the timing of the announcement, Starmer described the situation in Gaza as "intolerable" and warned that the two-state solution was becoming increasingly unattainable.
“This decision is motivated by the urgent need to revive the two-state solution,” Starmer told reporters. “It feels more distant today than at any time in recent years.”
He added that recognising Palestine would be a key component of an eight-point peace plan being jointly developed with European allies. France has already announced plans to officially recognise Palestinian statehood, while Ireland, Spain, and Norway have done so previously.
Labour MP Sarah Champion, who led the parliamentary push, said there may never be a "perfect" time for recognition, but stressed that waiting any longer could jeopardise the possibility of a two-state solution altogether.
“This may be our last opportunity to act in support of Palestinian rights and recognition,” she said. “It truly is now or never.”
