UK Poised to Recognize Palestinian State, Lammy Says Move Aims to Bolster Two-State Solution

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce on Sunday that the United Kingdom will formally recognize a Palestinian state—a major policy shift that comes despite strong opposition from Israel and rejection from Britain’s closest ally, the United States.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed that Starmer would outline the decision later in the day, stressing that recognition must be viewed as part of a broader peace process intended to pave the way toward a two-state solution.

Several other nations, including France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, are also expected to formally recognize Palestinian statehood this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Speaking to Sky News, Lammy said:
“Any step toward recognition is being taken because we want to keep alive the prospects of a two-state solution.”

Lammy: No Ceasefire in Gaza Yet

Starmer had said in July that Britain would recognize Palestine only if Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas, allowed greater humanitarian access into Gaza, ended settlement expansion in the West Bank, and committed to a peace process that delivered a viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel.

Lammy acknowledged on Sunday that since that pledge, the situation has worsened. “In fact, with the attack on Qatar, the prospects for a ceasefire right now are bleak, and remain bleak,” he said, adding that Israel had nonetheless advanced a compromise plan.

“We Cannot Wait for Perfect Conditions”

In a later interview with the BBC, Lammy argued against delaying recognition indefinitely:
“Do we really say that we must wait for ideal circumstances before recognizing a Palestinian state? Do we tell them: ‘No, you cannot have the state you dream of’?”

When asked whether recognition would be seen as a victory for Hamas, Lammy drew a sharp distinction between the militant Islamist group that governs Gaza and the Palestinian people.

U.S. Opposition and Symbolic Weight

U.S. President Donald Trump, during his state visit to Britain last Thursday, publicly disagreed with Starmer’s plan. Starmer, however, said he and Trump had agreed on the urgent need for peace in the region and the importance of a roadmap to achieve it.

If confirmed, Britain would join more than 140 UN member states that have already recognized Palestinian statehood. But the move carries unique symbolic significance: the UK has long been a key ally of Israel and played a pivotal role in its creation as a modern state after World War II.