UK poised to recognise Palestinian state today

The UK is expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday (September 21), following Israel’s failure to meet conditions laid out by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July, amid escalating violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Starmer had signalled recognition could come ahead of the UN General Assembly, set to begin on 23 September, if Israel did not commit to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid into the territory, reports The Guardian.

With those conditions unmet, and concerns growing over settlement expansion in the West Bank, the UK government is set to proceed despite pushback from the US and the families of hostages held by Hamas.

Labour insists the move is not an endorsement of Hamas, which it says will have no role in the governance of Gaza.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who will represent the UK at the UN, said the decision follows “serious expansion” of Israeli settlements and “settler violence” that threaten the viability of a two-state solution.

The announcement has drawn criticism from Israeli officials and the families of some of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza. In an open letter, relatives urged Starmer to delay the recognition, saying it risked undermining efforts to secure their release.

The UK joins 147 of the UN’s 193 member states that currently recognise the State of Palestine.