The UK is expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer concluded Israel had failed to meet conditions he set in July for avoiding the move.
Starmer had warned that Britain would act before next week’s UN General Assembly unless there was a ceasefire in Gaza, resumed aid deliveries, and credible steps towards a two-state solution.
With none of those conditions met, and Israeli settlement expansion accelerating, ministers say recognition is now unavoidable.
The decision comes amid intense pressure from Washington and from families of hostages still held by Hamas, who argue the move will embolden the group.
In an open letter to Starmer, relatives of captives urged him to delay recognition, warning it dramatically complicated efforts to secure a deal. Hamas has already hailed the UK’s decision as a victory, they said.
The government has stressed that recognition is not a reward for Hamas, and insists the group will have no role in Gaza’s future governance. Ministers are expected to toughen sanctions on Hamas while continuing to demand the release of hostages.
David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, said recognition reflected growing concern about Israeli actions in the West Bank. He cited settler violence and plans for the controversial E1 settlement development, warning it would “run a coach and horses through the possibility of a two-state solution.”
The move puts Starmer on a collision course with Donald Trump’s administration, which strongly opposes recognition and continues to bolster Israel with military aid.
Meanwhile, protests inside Israel are intensifying, with thousands urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a deal with Hamas to free the remaining hostages.
The State of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states. Britain will become one of the most influential Western nations to add its name to the list.
