LONDON — Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in a historic move that fulfills a promise to his Labour party members and puts Britain in line with France and other countries gathering this week at the United Nations in New York.
In a post on his official X account, Starmer said: “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine.”
Starmer pledged in July that he would grant recognition in September if a ceasefire had not been reached in Gaza, where Israel has in recent days escalated its military campaign against Hamas with a new ground offensive in Gaza City.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also announced on Sunday that his government will recognize a Palestinian state. In a social media post, Carney said: “Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
Ahead of the announcements made by Britain and others, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not “commit suicide” by welcoming a Palestinian state “because of Europe’s political needs.” A spokesperson quoted Netanyahu as calling the recognition “absurd” and a “reward for terrorism.”
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will travel to New York to make the U.K.’s formal declaration at the U.N. General Assembly, with Starmer opting out in favor of tending to a host of domestic challenges, including questions over his leadership.
The U.K.’s move follows a diplomatic push by France’s Emmanuel Macron, who will co-chair a conference at the U.N. on Monday on a two-state solution, as well as significant domestic pressure. Australia and Belgium have also recently committed to recognizing Palestinian statehood, joining the majority of U.N. member states.
The British premier had long supported Palestinian statehood in principle, but refused to put a timeline on granting official status until earlier this year, when he faced calls for action from much of the Labour Party, including his own Cabinet.
The topic was a point of tension during an otherwise smooth visit by Donald Trump to the U.K. last week, during which the U.S. president admitted it was “one of our few disagreements” in response to a question during a joint press conference with Starmer at Chequers.
However, Trump did not take Starmer to task and even patted him on the back as he called Hamas “a terrorist organization who can have no part in any future governance in Palestine.”
As well as demonstrating solidarity with Palestinians, Starmer will hope that the decision helps calm the mood at Labour’s forthcoming annual conference, which serves as a litmus test of the leader’s standing with the party.
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