UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to formally recognise a Palestinian state this weekend, once Donald Trump concludes his state visit to Britain. The announcement is expected ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, where the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is set to dominate global discussions.
Starmer has previously said recognition of Palestinian statehood would come before the UN summit if Israel does not meet specific conditions to ease the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Those conditions include agreeing to a ceasefire, opening access for humanitarian aid, and advancing a long-term peace process leading to a two-state solution.
However, with Israeli forces carrying out a major ground offensive in Gaza and rejecting these terms, UK recognition is now viewed as imminent. More than 147 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognise Palestine, while France, Australia, and Canada are reportedly considering similar steps at the upcoming UN meeting.
Balancing Diplomacy with Washington
The timing of Starmer’s announcement has been carefully managed to avoid overshadowing his joint press conference with Donald Trump at Chequers. The United States has opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, putting Starmer at odds with Washington. Nonetheless, he faces mounting pressure from Labour MPs who argue that Britain must take a stronger stand given the escalating humanitarian toll in Gaza.
London Mayor Labels Gaza Crisis a Genocide
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has described the situation in Gaza as a “genocide” for the first time. Speaking at a public event, Khan pointed to UN reports and International Court of Justice findings, saying the scale of starvation, famine, and the collapse of Gaza’s health system cannot be ignored.
A UN commission this week said it had reasonable grounds to conclude Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the findings as “distorted and false.”
Broader Global Context
The debate over Palestinian statehood has intensified amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which has forced thousands of families to flee their homes. Calls for recognition are seen by supporters as a crucial step toward reviving peace negotiations and ending decades of conflict.
For Starmer, the decision represents one of his most consequential foreign policy moves since taking office, with the potential to reshape Britain’s role in Middle East diplomacy.
