British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the United Kingdom will formally recognise a Palestinian state, describing it as a step to keep alive the two-state solution. The decision, announced on Sunday, aligns the UK with Australia and Canada, while Portugal is expected to follow.

A major shift in UK foreign policy

Successive UK governments had said recognition should only come at a time of maximum impact, preferably during peace talks. Starmer’s announcement shows a sharp departure from that stance. He said recognition was not a reward for Hamas, as Israel has claimed, and stressed that Hamas would have no role in the future of Palestine. “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace,” he said.

British Prime Min

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