Residents of Gaza and West Bank have welcomed the UK's formal decision to recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday.

“We consider it a remarkable historic day and a victory for the Palestinian people and their suffering, and at the same time a victory for the United Kingdom, its king, government, and people,” said Ahmed Al-Deek, the political adviser to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the decision on Sunday, following those from Canada and Australia, in what appears to be a coordinated initiative from the Commonwealth nations.

On Sunday, Starmer said the move is intended to promote lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Though the move is largely symbolic, it is a historic moment as the U.K. arguably laid the groundwork for the creation of the Israeli state when it was in control of what was then known as Palestine in 1917.

The announcement was widely anticipated after Starmer said in July that the U.K. would recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowed the UN to bring in aid and took other steps toward long-term peace.

The U.K. is not alone in recognizing a Palestinian state.

More than 140 countries have already taken that step and more are expected to do so at the UN General Assembly this week, including France.