London, September 21, 2025 — The Europe Today: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the United Kingdom will officially recognize the State of Palestine, a move described as a significant shift in British foreign policy.
In a video statement released on X, Starmer said the decision aimed to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution” amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.
The UK’s announcement came alongside similar declarations from Australia and Canada, while Portugal is also expected to follow suit.
The decision has triggered strong criticism from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, calling it “an absurd reward for terrorism” that threatens Israel’s existence. Families of hostages held in Gaza and some members of the UK Conservative Party also voiced their objections.
Israeli and US officials argued that recognition effectively rewarded Hamas, referencing the October 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Responding to the criticism, Starmer insisted that the recognition was “not a reward for Hamas,” stressing that the group has “no future, no role in government, no role in security.” He described the move as “a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future,” condemning the “starvation and devastation” in Gaza as intolerable.
The prime minister noted that previous UK governments had tied recognition of Palestine to progress in peace negotiations. However, he argued that Britain now bore a moral responsibility to sustain hopes for a two-state solution, particularly given the ongoing conflict and humanitarian suffering.
Starmer had earlier warned in July that Britain would reconsider its stance unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and committed to a long-term peace process that ensures coexistence between two states.
