Big blow for Israel, US: UK joins Australia, Canada in recognising Palestinian state

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday confirmed that the United Kingdom has formally recognised a Palestinian state, joining Australia and Canada in what appears to be a coordinated move by Commonwealth nations.

The announcement marks a historic moment, as Britain played a pivotal role in the region more than a century ago. In 1917, while governing what was then Palestine, the U.K. issued the Balfour Declaration backing a “national home for the Jewish people,” while also pledging that “nothing shall be done... which may prejudice the civil and religious rights” of Palestinians.

Starmer, who has faced pressure within his Labour Party to adopt a tougher stance on Israel, said the recognition was not a reward for Hamas but a step towards reviving hopes of peace.

“We must channel our efforts, united together in hope, behind the peaceful future that we want to see: the release of the hostages, an end to the violence, an end to the suffering and a shift back towards a two-state solution as the best hope for peace and security for all sides," he said.

He stressed that Hamas would have “no role in any future governance of the Palestinian people.”

More than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, and France is expected to follow suit at the U.N. General Assembly this week. Starmer had signalled in July that Britain would proceed with recognition unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, opened humanitarian access for the U.N., and took concrete steps toward long-term peace.

The move comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to London, during which he voiced his disapproval. Washington and Tel Aviv have strongly opposed the decision, with critics arguing it “rewards Hamas” for its Oct. 7, 2023, attack and amounts to little more than symbolism, given Palestinian political divisions between Gaza and the West Bank.