United Kingdom will recognize the Palestinian State if Israel does not end the “terrible situation” in Gaza

Photo foot, Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed several conditions that would reconsider the recognition of the Palestinian State.

- Author, Writing
- Author's title, BBC News World
29 julio 2025

The United Kingdom plans to recognize the condition of the Palestinian State in September, before the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced on Tuesday, enumerating some conditions for this to happen.

After a cabinet meeting, Starmer said that the recognition would be “unless the Israel government takes substantive measures to end the terrible situation in Gaza, reach a high fire, let it clear that there will be no annexation in the West Bank and commits a long -term peace process that offers a solution of two states.”

Starmer also reiterated that he does not consider Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamás as pairs.

He also said that the demands from the United Kingdom to Hamas are still the same: that he releases all hostages, firm a high fire, ensures that he will not play any role in the Gaza government and commit to a disarmament.

Starmer assured that he will evaluate before the UN General Assembly in September to what extent the parties have met these conditions before making a definitive decision about the recognition of the Palestinian State, guaranteeing that none of the parties are entitled to veto, according to the declaration.

The pronouncement of the British Prime Minister occurs after last week the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced that his country will recognize the Palestinian State at the September UN meeting.

After the announcement of Starmer on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry of France said: “Today, the United Kingdom adds to the impulse initiated by France for the recognition of the State of Palestine. Together, through this crucial decision and our combined efforts, we are ending the endless cycle of violence and reopening the perspective of peace in the region.”

“Nothing can be brought on the path of a fair and clear idea.”

In its first reaction, the Israel government expressed its rejection of the Starmer's statement: “The British Government's position change at this time, after the French initiative and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a high fire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages,” said the Israeli foreign ministry.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, censored Macron's statement last week in similar terms.

Starmer at the UN General Assembly — Photo foot, Both France and the United Kingdom say that recognition would occur within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly.

About 140 countries formally recognize the Palestinian state. Several European governments and the United States claim that they would only do so as part of the measures to achieve a long -term solution to the conflict.

Spain, Ireland and Norway formally took the passage last year, hoping to exert diplomatic pressure to guarantee a high fire in Gaza.

In the United Nations, Palestine representatives currently have limited rights to participate in UN activities, and the territory is also recognized by various international organizations, including the Arab League.

The skeptics argue that recognition would be largely a symbolic gesture, unless the issues related to their government and the extension of the territory of a possible Palestinian state are first addressed.

“Change the conditions on the ground”

At a press conference, Starmer said that the objective of the United Kingdom is that Israel is still “safe and protected” next to a “viable and sovereign” Palestinian state.

However, that goal is under a pressure “as never before,” he considered. He adds that he has always argued that the United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian State as a contribution to an adequate peace process at the time of maximum impact.

The prime minister states that today's announcement is due to two reasons: the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and the concern that the “possibility” of a solution of two states is “reducing”.

In relation to the fact that the announcement has been framed in the UN General Assembly, Starmer states that his desire is to ensure that this measure “contributes to change the conditions on the ground”, including the entry of help in Gaza.

He adds that this announcement is part of an eight -point peace plan in which, he says, the government has been working for a long time.