BREAKING: Keir Starmer confirms UK formally recognises Palestine

The UK has formally recognised Palestine as a state after Israelfailed to meet conditions set by the Government, Keir Starmer has announced.

In the summer, the Prime Minister announced that the UK was prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel met certain conditions. These included agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, committing to a long-term sustainable peace and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.

But Downing Street now believe the situation has worsened significantly, and the images of violence, starvation and suffering are intolerable. Earlier this week a ground offensive was launched in Gaza city and a UN-commissioned inquiry said Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the war-torn enclave.

Speaking today, Mr Starmer said: "Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine."

Minutes earlier, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada would also recognise statehood for Palestine, saying: "Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel."

Australia followed suit, with Prime Minister Anthony Albonese saying: "Australia's recognition of Palestine today, alongside Canada and the United Kingdom, is part of a co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages taken in the atrocities of October 7, 2023.

"Today's act of recognition reflects Australia's longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples."

READ MORE: UK set to recognise Palestine - what does it mean and could it end Gaza war

London mayor Sadiq Khan has said recognising a Palestinian state will show people in Haza that they have "not been forgotten about".

Asked how the symbolic move would affect people living in Gaza, Sir Sadiq said: "Well let's not underestimate the importance of symbolism. I've spoken to people who have family in Gaza, and they know what's happening around the world.

"It's really important for them to understand they're not suffering in silence. They've not been forgotten about. In my view, it's now inescapable. There's a genocide taking place in Gaza.

"It's really important those, you know, who've got a voice, make sure their voices are heard. And I think at the UN General Assembly, countries like the UK under Keir Starmer's decision, saying they recognise Palestine, is incredibly important."

But a spokeswoman for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netayahu said he viewed the recognition of a Palestinian state as "absurd".

Shosh Bedrosian told reporters: "There have been media reports suggesting the British prime minister Keir Starmer is planning on announcing the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state today, a manoeuvre that prime minister Netanyahu has called absurd and simply a reward for terrorism."

She said Hamas did not want a state alongside Israel "they want a state instead of Israel".

It comes as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy travel to New York to back the move at the United Nations General Assembly. This morning, Mr Lammy, who is also Justice Secretary, acknowledged that a Palestinian state would not emerge "overnight" if the UK recognises one later today.

He said "we are some significant distance" from two states - Palestine and Israel - existing alongside each other. And he admitted the move won’t feed kids in Gaza, nor get the hostages released. But the Cabinet minister said recognition would help keep the prospect of a two-state solution alive. "It is to keep that process alive, a process that the United Kingdom has committed to over successive governments,” Mr Lammy told Sky News.

Husam Zomlot, the UK representative of the Palestinian Authority, told the BBC recognition “would mean a lot”. He said that recognition is a “foundational step” towards establishing a sovereign state of Palestine. “Anybody who argues against that is somebody who wants to see us moving backward rather than forward,” he said.

Palestine is recognised by 147 of the UN's 193 member states. The UK, France and Canada, who all have plans to recognise Palestine this month, would be the first G7 countries to do so.

The move has notably set the UK apart from the US, with Donald Trump having made clear he does not plan to recognise Palestine. At a joint press conference with Mr Starmer on Thursday, the US President said there was a "disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score" when asked about No10's plans.

Relatives of over a dozen hostages, taken by Hamas after its 2023 attack on Israel, have written to Mr Starmer urging him not to go ahead with recognition. They say the move “has dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones”. “We write to you with a simple plea - do not take this step until our loved ones are home and in our arms,” they said in their letter.

Labour's manifesto committed to recognising Palestine but Downing Street has been holding off to do it "at the moment of maximum impact". Mr Starmerset out a roadmap for recognitionin July after increasing pressure from MPs for the UK to recognise Palestine.

It came as more than 250 MPs from across the Commons having signed a letter calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was among senior figures in Government to call for the UK to do the same, urging Palestine to be recognised "while there is still a state of Palestine left to recognise".

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