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PortuguêsUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces formal recognition of Palestinian state, joining Australia and Canada in coordinated diplomatic move to revive two-state solution amid Middle East conflict.
Historic Diplomatic Move
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the United Kingdom's formal recognition of a Palestinian state, marking a significant shift in British foreign policy. The decision comes amid escalating violence in the Middle East and represents a coordinated effort with other Western nations to revive the prospect of a two-state solution.
International Coordination
The UK's recognition follows similar announcements from Australia and Canada, with Portugal and France expected to follow suit. This coordinated diplomatic push aims to create momentum for peace negotiations at the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting. 'In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution,' Starmer stated in his official announcement.
Israeli Opposition
The decision has drawn fierce criticism from the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that a Palestinian state 'will not happen.' Netanyahu accused recognizing nations of 'giving a huge reward to terrorism' following Hamas's October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.
Humanitarian Context
The recognition comes as Gaza faces what UN officials describe as 'cataclysmic' conditions. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 65,208 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began nearly two years ago. Recent Israeli military operations in Gaza City have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, with famine confirmed in the territory since August 2025.
Political Reactions
The move has sparked mixed reactions domestically. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it 'absolutely disastrous,' while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey welcomed the decision as 'long overdue.' Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised the recognition, saying it would help pave the way for peaceful coexistence.
Symbolic Significance
While largely symbolic, the recognition establishes the UK's position that Palestinian statehood should be based on 1967 borders with equal land swaps. Approximately 75% of UN member states already recognize Palestine, though the state lacks internationally agreed boundaries, capital, or army due to Israeli occupation.
For more background on the conflict, see Wikipedia's Two-State Solution article.
