UK to recognise statehood for Palestine on Sunday: Report

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to make an official announcement from on Sept 21 to recognise statehood for Palestine.

Updated on: Sep 21, 2025, 05:27:02 IST

By Danita Yadav

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The UK is set to announce its recognition of statehood for Palestine on Sunday. As per the latest report, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to make an official announcement from Downing Street on September 21.

In July, after France's announcement, the UK stated it would move to recognise statehood for Palestine at the UN General Assembly. (AFP)

In July, after France's announcement, the UK stated it would move to recognise statehood for Palestine at the UN General Assembly. However, in his statement, Starmer stated that the UK may shift its position if Israel met all conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza, and an eventual two-state solution with Palestine.

However, as the war in Gaza rages on and Israel continues to escalate its war plans for the Palestinian territory, a BBC report has claimed that the Starmer government is likely to recognise Palestine on Sunday.

If Starmer announces the official recognition of a Palestinian state, it would mark a major shift in British foreign policy. Previous governments have backed the recognition but have stated that it should come as part of an overall peace process between Israel and Palestine.

"Ministers believe that time was now, and argue there was a moral responsibility to act to keep the hope of a long-term peace deal alive," reported the BBC.

Citing government sources, the BBC added that the move comes after ministers noted the worsening situation on the ground, including ongoing starvation and famine, Israel's renewed military operation and violence in Gaza.

Also Read | 'Farewell picture' of 48 hostages raises alarm as Gaza war rages on; families call for urgent ceasefire

Furthermore, ministers have also flagged their concerns regarding the growing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank region.

Earlier this week, a UN commission concluded that Israel has been committing a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. However, this report was dismissed by Israel as "distorted and false".

France, UK, Australia and more move to recognise Palestine

In a bid to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, several nations such as France, Australia, Canada and more have announced that they will be working towards recognising statehood for Palestine.

French President Emmanuel Macron set the ball rolling after his announcing his intention to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly. Following France, the UK, Canada and Australia also announced their move to recognise Palestine.

Also Read | Trump says he disagrees with UK PM Starmer on recognising Palestine: ‘One of our few disagreements’

Belgium, Malta and Portugal have also joined the list as their government move to recognise statehood for Palestine.

At present, the state of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign nation by 147 of the 193 UN member states, which amounts to 75 percent of the international community. Mexico joined the list earlier this year after it announced its official recognition of Palestine.

Palestine is also recognised by the Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, which holds UN observer status.

These decisions have been slammed by Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with the Israeli prime minister accusing nations of “enaabling Hamas and terrorism.” Israel has been backed by the United States and current Trump administration in its criticism of the move to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.