The UK could recognise the State of Palestine after a Gaza ceasefire is reached, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video address published on X.
„Together with our closest allies, I am working on a strategy for peace in the region, focusing on practical solutions that will make a difference to the lives of those suffering as a result of the war. This strategy will include the concrete steps needed to turn the much-needed ceasefire into lasting peace. Recognising a Palestinian state must be one of those steps. "My position on this issue is unequivocal," the British prime minister said.
Starmer added that the recognition of Palestine "must be part of a broader plan that ultimately leads to a resolution" of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, based on the principle of two-state coexistence and "lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis."
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Starmer did not want to rush to recognize Palestine as an independent state so as not to spoil his relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump. According to the publication, Washington is calling on US allies not to recognize Palestine, as this will complicate the settlement of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The point on recognizing a Palestinian state was contained in the election program of the British Labour Party, which returned to power in July 2024. after winning the general election. However, it was not specified when this might happen. Starmer had previously said that London would recognise Palestine at the “appropriate time“.
On 24 July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the country would formally recognise the State of Palestine at a session of the UN General Assembly in September.