Hamas declares ‘victory’ after UK recognition of Palestine
Credit: @Keir_Starmer / X
Hamas has declared victory for “the justice of our cause” after Sir Keir Starmer announced Britain would recognise Palestinian statehood.
In a video message on Sunday, Sir Keir insisted the move, one of the most significant shifts in British foreign policy in decades, was “not a reward for Hamas”.
But Mahmoud Mardaw, a senior Hamas official, claimed it represented “a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause” and would “send a clear message” to Israel.
On Sunday night, US president Donald Trump said the decision was “rewarding Hamas”. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, he added: “I don’t think they should be rewarded. I am not in that camp, to be honest.”
Credit: C-Span
Sir Keir said his decision would “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution” ahead of a UN General Assembly meeting in New York on Monday, where some Western countries are expected to push Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two-state solution is fading, but we cannot let that light go out,” he said.
Alongside similar announcements of recognition from Canada and Australia, he described Hamas as a “brutal terror organisation”.
He said: “We are clear this solution is not a reward for Hamas, because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”
Sir Keir also criticised the Israeli government’s “cruel tactics” of stopping aid at the border and described a recent increase in bombing in Gaza as “utterly intolerable”.
The decision provoked condemnation from Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who said it was “a huge reward for terrorism” on October 7 and vowed: “It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Mr Netanyahu said he would continue the illegal Israeli settlement of the West Bank, after two of his hard-Right ministers called for the territory to be annexed entirely.
Credit: X / @IsraeliPM_heb
Jewish organisations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, condemned the decision, arguing there will be “deep dismay at the Prime Minister’s announcement across the Jewish community”, while the Campaign Against Antisemitism described the decision as “Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment”.
Meanwhile, the families of hostages held by Hamas said the UK and its allies were responsible for a “catastrophic failure of political, moral and diplomatic leadership” and said any recognition of Palestine must be contingent on the release of their relatives.
Writing in The Telegraph, Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said Sir Keir had been “bullied and forced into this by his backbench MPs, who he is now too weak to stand up to”.
She said he was “not only appeasing his backbenchers [but] also appeasing the cruel brutality of the Iran-backed Hamas terrorists”.
The Foreign Office said it would now begin the formal process of recognising Palestine, which will upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s mission to the UK into a full embassy.
Minutes after Sir Keir’s announcement, its website updated its map of the region, changing references from “Occupied Palestinian Territories” to “Palestine”.
It is not clear whether the UK will open its own embassy in Palestine, but on Sunday night, the French government said it would wait until after the hostages have been released before establishing a fully-fledged diplomatic corps in the country.
A map of the region on the government’s website now clearly labels Palestine
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, will travel to the UN this week for a “diplomatic drive” for a ceasefire in Gaza, followed by the delivery of humanitarian aid and a new government in the territory.
The Foreign Office said that the recognition must be followed by governmental reform by the Palestinian Authority and the removal of Hamas from power in Gaza.
Ms Cooper said the decision was “only one part of what must be a stronger and wider push for peace,” which requires “not just an immediate ceasefire, but a plan for a durable peace”.
However, David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, admitted earlier on Sunday that the move would have little immediate impact on the war in Gaza or the hostages that remain in Hamas captivity.
“Will this feed children? No, it won’t,” he told the BBC. “That’s down to humanitarian aid.”
“Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire. But does this mean that you get or hold out for a two-state solution, and stand by that Palestinian cause being a just cause?”
Mr Lammy also said he did not think Britain recognising Palestine would bring a ceasefire closer, arguing that it was “very hard to see a ceasefire in the coming weeks” because of Israel’s strikes on Qatar, which left the prospect “in tatters”.
That brings an end to our live blog
Thank you for following our coverage as Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK would formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Here’s a summary of the key moments:
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Having first revealed in July his plans to formally recognise Palestine as a state, the Prime Minister officially announced the move shortly after 2pm.
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The announcement was seemingly coordinated with the governments of Australia and Canada which also recognised Palestinian statehood at the same time.
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In his video address, Sir Keir said the decision was intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution” and would not reward the “brutal terror organisation” Hamas.
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While calling for the release of hostages, he also called on the Israeli government “to lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border, stop these cruel tactics, and let the aid surge in”.
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Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and US president Donald Trump said the UK, Canada, and Australia had rewarded Hamas.
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A Hamas official hailed the decision as a victory for the rights of Palestinians and “the justice of our cause”.
Trump: UK, Canada, and Australia are ‘rewarding Hamas’
Donald Trump has spoken for the first time on the UK, Canada and Australia’s decisions to recognise Palestinian statehood, saying the countries are “rewarding Hamas”.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the US president said: “You could make the case you’re rewarding Hamas and I don’t think they should be rewarded.
“I’m not in that camp. I’ll let you know where we are but I am not in that camp. If you do that, you really are rewarding Hamas and I’m not about to do that.”
Sir Keir Starmer is believed to have delayed his announcement until after Mr Trump’s state visit to the UK this week to avoid overshadowing the occasion.
Mr Trump made the remarks as he travelled to Arizona to attend a memorial service for murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Credit: C-Span
‘This will not help one Palestinian,’ says Israel’s president
Israel’s president Isaac Herzog has said the recognition of Palestine by the UK is a “sad day” that will “only embolden the forces of darkness”.
In a post on X, Mr Herzog said: “After the atrocities of October 7, while Hamas continues its campaign of terror, and while it continues to cruelly hold 48 hostages in the tunnels and dungeons of Gaza, the recognition of a Palestinian state by some nations today is, not surprisingly, cheered by Hamas.
“It will not help one Palestinian, it won’t help free one hostage, and it will not help us reach any settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. It will only embolden the forces of darkness. “This is a sad day for those who seek true peace.”
No French embassy in Palestine until hostages are freed, says Macron
France is expected to be one of the next nations to recognise Palestinian statehood.
The French president Emmanuel Macron will formally recognise the Palestinian state on Monday at the United Nations, a day after the UK, Canada and Australia.
However, he said France will not open a new embassy in Palestine until all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are released.
Mr Macron told CBS: “It will be, for us, a requirement very clearly before opening, for instance, an embassy in Palestine.”
Credit: Emmanuel Macron via X
‘UK Government must impose more sanctions on Israel’, says Scotland’s First Minister
John Swinney welcomed the UK recognition of a Palestinian state as a “historic moment” but said it must not be conditional and must be backed by sanctions.
Scotland’s First Minister also called for a ceasefire and said that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow freely into Gaza.
“The recognition of a Palestinian state is a historic moment which should have come long ago,” he said.
“I welcome this long-awaited recognition but stress that it must not be conditional and it must be backed by sanctions against Israel.
“In addition to the recognition of the State of Palestine, Israel must agree to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to flow freely to address the starvation being faced in Gaza.
“A two-state solution is the only way that the Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peace, prosperity and security.
Hamas declares ‘victory’
A senior Hamas official has hailed the UK, Canada and Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state as a victory for the rights of Palestinians.
“These developments represent a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause, and send a clear message: no matter how far the occupation goes in its crimes, it will never be able to erase our national rights,” Mahmoud Mardawi told the AFP news agency.
Netanyahu says recognition is ‘a huge reward for terrorism’
Credit: X / @IsraeliPM_heb
Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “there will be no Palestinian state”.
Israel’s prime minister accused the leaders of the UK, Canada and Australia of “giving a huge reward for terrorism” but noted that Israel’s official response would come after he returns from the US.
In a video address, he said: “I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre on October 7 – you are giving a huge reward to terrorism.
“And I have another message for you: It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
The embattled leader then warned that Israel will continue to develop Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, just hours after two hard-Right ministers called for the annexation of the Palestinian territory.
“Indeed, we doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria and we will continue on this path,” he said, referring to what Israel calls the West Bank.
“The response to the latest attempt to impose a terrorist state on us in the heart of our country will be given after my return from the United States. We will wait,” he said.
Suella Braverman: ‘Starmer has surrendered to forces hell-bent on Israel’s demise’
Keir Starmer’s recognition of a Palestinian state is a catastrophic misjudgement that will do nothing to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East, writes former Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
By demanding Israel meet impossible ceasefire terms, while giving a free pass to Hamas, this policy has betrayed Britain’s tradition of even-handed diplomacy. It rewards terror, excuses Palestinian governance failures, dismantles the Oslo framework, and surrenders to domestic political forces that are hell-bent on Israel’s demise.
As we approach the two year anniversary of the October 7 atrocities, Starmer’s timing could not be any worse.
You can read Mrs Braverman’s full piece here
Starmer writes to Palestinian president
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Downing Street earlier this month – via REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer has written to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to inform him of UK recognition of a Palestinian state.
In his letter, the Prime Minister said: “This historic decision affirms the United Kingdom’s support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including to statehood.
“A two-state solution remains the only pathway to a just and lasting peace for the region. I commend the important commitments you have made on reform and reiterate my support as you deliver them to build the Palestinian state.
“I am conscious of the historical role that the United Kingdom has played in the Middle East. In 1917, Britain supported the principle of a national home for the Jewish people, noting that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities.
“In making this decision today, I reaffirm the United Kingdom’s commitment to a Palestinian State for the Palestinian people, and our enduring support for a two-state solution in which Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace and security.
“The United Kingdom looks forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation between the British and Palestinian peoples. Our Foreign Secretary will write to your Foreign Minister to take forward the process of establishing full diplomatic relations.
“I was honoured to host you at Downing Street earlier this month. I look forward to a close and constructive relationship between our two States.”
Foreign office’s map now labels Palestine
In an early indication of the changes as a result of recognition, some Foreign Office web pages changed references from “Occupied Palestinian Territories” to “Palestine”.
The changes applied to pages including travel advice for Israel and Palestine, the list of Foreign Office overseas posts, and a map of the region.
A map of the region on the government’s website now clearly labels Palestine
Israeli minister: ‘The days when Britain and others determined our future are over’
Another hard-Right minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition has called for the annexation of the West Bank following the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, branded the decision “anti-Israeli”, saying: “The days when Britain and other countries would determine our future are over.
“The mandate is over, and the only response to this anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the historic homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, and permanently removing the folly of a Palestinian state from the agenda.”
“Mr prime minister, the time is now and it is in your hands,” Mr Smotrich added in a post on X.
Mr Smotrich has repeatedly called for the annexation of the Israeli-occupied territory, where roughly half a million Israelis live in Jewish settlements among three million Palestinians.
Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, made a similar statement earlier, saying he will propose the “immediate” annexation of the West Bank at an upcoming cabinet meeting.
Nigel Farage: This will not bring about peace
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added: “The Prime Minister is wrong to recognise a Palestinian state.
“This is a reward for the Hamas terrorists and will do nothing to bring about peace.”
UK accused of turning ‘blind eye’ to hostages
The families of hostages held by Hamas have jointly condemned the UK, Canada and Australia for their recognition of a Palestinian state, branding it a “catastrophic failure of political, moral and diplomatic leadership”.
“As families who deeply want peace in the region, we believe that any discussion about recognising a Palestinian state must be contingent upon the immediate release of all hostages”, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on Sunday, calling it a “moral and humanitarian imperative.”
The forum argued that Britain, Canada and Australia had turned a “blind eye” to the remaining hostages. It urged other nations to “act responsibly and ensure that any ‘day after’ discussions occur only after our loved ones are brought home.”
There are 48 captives still held inside Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. There has been growing anger inside Israel over its military’s fresh ground offensive inside Gaza City due to concerns it will endanger the lives of the hostages, which are believed to be held inside the city. Hamas this week called the expansion of the nearly two-year war effectively a death sentence for the remaining hostages.
The Prime Minister called for the immediate release of all hostages during his video announcement on Sunday.
‘This is about peace in the Labour party… not the Middle East’
Lord Wolfson, the shadow attorney general, said Sir Keir’s announcement was “nothing to do with peace in the Middle East, and everything to do with peace in the Labour Party”.
He added: “It will achieve neither.”
Labour MPs and ministers have been calling on Number 10 to recognise Palestine for some months, after the Gaza war drove many voters away from the Government.
The Green Party and Jeremy Corbyn’s new outfit, “Your Party”, are explicitly campaigning in favour of Palestine and against Israel.
‘We will rue the day this decision was made’, says Tory leader
Kemi Badenoch said recognition of a Palestinian state was an “absolutely disastrous” move by the Prime Minister.
The Conservative leader said: “We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas.
“It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war.
“It is because Labour cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left.”
‘Decision is nothing but a reward for Hamas’, says Israeli foreign ministry
The Israeli foreign ministry condemned the move, saying: “Recognition is nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas.”
In a post on X it said “Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the ‘fruit’ for the October 7 massacre.
“Don’t let Jihadist ideology dictate your policy.”
‘This is not just symbolic… it sends a clear and powerful message’
Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee, welcomed the news and said it was “not merely symbolic”.
“Recognising the state of Palestine is essential to securing a sustainable and long-lasting peace in the region, including Gaza,” she said.
“I am pleased that the Government has taken this important step forward, following my Committee’s recommendation in January for ministers to set out a timetable for recognition.
“Doing so is not merely symbolic; it sends a clear and powerful message to the Palestinian people that a path to peace remains open. There is more hard diplomatic work to be done, but today’s announcement is a critical step.”
Palestine’s 89-year-old president says UK recognition a step towards ‘lasting peace’
Mahmud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), said that Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state was a necessary step towards lasting peace in the region.
“His excellency praised the United Kingdom’s recognition of the independent State of Palestine, affirming that it constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy,” Mr Abbas’s office said in a statement.
The nearly 90-year-old politician has led the internationally recognised PA since he was elected its president in 2005.
The body has limited control in Gaza and only administers 40 per cent of the West Bank in the face of Israel’s expanded control and military operations inside the occupied territory.
Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, the PA is facing heightened scrutiny over its ability to run the Strip if Israel defeats Hamas and the fighting ends.
Watch: Palestinian diplomat celebrates
Credit: Reuters
The Palestinian Mission to the UK has welcomed the Government’s recognition of a Palestinian state, calling for “action” including a full arms embargo on Israel to follow.
Ambassador Husam Zomlot, who can be seen here celebrating the announcement, said: “Today is not just about Palestine, but about Britain’s fulfilment of a solemn responsibility.
“This long-overdue recognition marks an end to Britain’s denial of the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, freedom, and independence in our homeland.
“It marks an irreversible step towards justice, peace, and the correction of historic wrongs, including Britain’s colonial legacy, the Balfour Declaration, and its role in the dispossession of the Palestinian people.
“Today’s decision by the United Kingdom to recognise the State of Palestine comes amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank”.
He continued: “Recognition must now be followed by action. This foundational step must translate into immediate, concrete, and consequential measures, to acknowledge and halt the genocide, end the occupation and the culture of impunity that sustains it, reverse the expansion of illegal settlements, and uphold international law. This includes the adoption of comprehensive sanctions, a full arms embargo, and accountability for those responsible for war crimes.”
Jewish groups condemn Starmer’s decision
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said there will be “deep dismay at the Prime Minister’s announcement across the Jewish community”.
The country’s largest Jewish community organisation added that the move had reduced pressure on Hamas.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism described it as “Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment”.
Israeli minister calls for annexation of West Bank following UK recognition of Palestine
Israel’s hard-Right national security minister said he will propose the “immediate” annexation of the Israel-occupied West Bank following Britain, Canada and Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
“The recognition by the UK, Canada, and Australia of a ‘Palestinian’ state, as a prize for the murderous Nukhba terrorists, requires immediate countermeasures,” said Itamar Ben Gvir on Sunday.
In a post on X, he called for “the immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria”, the biblical name used by Israel for the West Bank, “and the complete dismantling of the ‘Palestinian’ Authority.”
“I intend to submit a proposal for applying sovereignty at the upcoming cabinet meeting,” he said.
Earlier this month, another hardline minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich, called for the country to annex more than 80 per cent of the West Bank “to remove, once and for all, this idea of a Palestinian state”.
Israel has long shied away from formally annexing the territory, largely due to concerns that it could spur a global backlash.
Mr Netanyahu is said to be considering proposals in the wake of commitments from several of Israel’s traditional allies to recognise the Palestinian state.
Sir Ed Davey: ‘This historic day must not be end of the road’
We’ve finished covering Sir Keir’s remarks but we are continuing to get reaction to this historic announcement.
Sir Ed Davey has said the recognition of Palestine marks an “historic” day that must “not be the end of the road”.
The Liberal Democrat leader said: “Recognising the right of Palestinians to their self-determination has been long overdue.
“It is a great step forward and something that Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for for almost a decade.
“But this is not the end of the road. The humanitarian catastrophe across Gaza and the West Bank continues to devastate lives – both for the hostages held in Hamas’ captivity and Palestinians suffering across the Occupied Territories.”
Mr Davey added that the Government must “follow through” by securing a ceasefire and reach a two-state solution to “ensure a permanent end to the conflict”.
Sir Ed Davey delivers a speech during his party’s autumn conference in Bournemouth on Sunday – PA
‘Hostages must be released immediately’
Sir Keir said: “Almost two years after the barbaric attacks of Oct 7, hostages are still held by the terrorists of Hamas.Recent images show the hostages suffering and emaciated.
“Hamas even refuse to release all the bodies of the dead.
“I have met British families of the hostages.
“I see the torture they endure each and every day. Pain that strikes deep in people’s hearts across Israel and here in the UK.
“The hostages must be released immediately and we will keep fighting to bring them home”.
Starmer accuses Israel of ‘cruel tactics’
“Meanwhile, the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths,” said Sir Keir in today’s announcement.
“The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable.
“Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water.
“This death and destruction horrifies all of us.
“It must end.”
He said that “nowhere near enough aid is getting through” and called on the Israeli government “to lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border, stop these cruel tactics, and let the aid surge in”.
Israel has previously denied that there are restrictions on aid.
Middle East conflict has divided UK, says PM
The Prime Minister added: “I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes.
“We have seen it on our streets, in our schools, in conversations we’ve had with friends and family.
“It has created division.
“Some have used it to stoke hatred and fear, but that solves nothing.
“Not only must we reject hate, we must redouble our efforts to combat hatred in all its forms.
“We must channel our efforts, united together in hope, behind the peaceful future that we want to see: the release of the hostages, an end to the violence, an end to the suffering and a shift back towards a two-state solution as the best hope for peace and security for all sides.”
Starmer: Decision made ‘in face of the growing horror in the Middle East’
Sir Keir said in the video: “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution.
“That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state – at the moment we have neither.”
He adds: “So, today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine.”
Watch: Prime Minister recognises Palestinian statehood
Sir Keir Starmer has posted a video message on X announcing that the UK formally recognises Palestine as a state.
The Prime Minister said the move was intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis”.
He adds: “Let’s be frank. Hamas is a brutal terror organisation. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision.
“We are clear this solution is not a reward for Hamas, because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”
Canada and Australia also recognise Palestine as a state
Canada will also formally recognise Palestine as a state from today, the country’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on X.
In a seemingly coordinated announcement, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Australia would also recognise the state.
You can read Mr Albanese’s joint statement with Penny Wong, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Foreign Affairs, below.
Recognising Palestine will not bring a ceasefire, admits Lammy
Recognising Palestine will not bring a ceasefire, aid to the people of Gaza or the release of hostages, David Lammy has admitted.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to give diplomatic recognition to the territory on Sunday would not have any immediate effect on the ground in Gaza, but would allow the UK to “hold out” for a two-state solution.
Mr Lammy, who was recently moved out of the Foreign Office in Sir Keir’s latest ministerial reshuffle, said it would not immediately solve many of the issues in Gaza.
He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Will this feed children? No it won’t. That’s down to humanitarian aid.
“Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire. But does this mean that you get or hold out for a two-state solution, and stand by that Palestinian cause being a just cause.”
David Lammy and the Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot
What does Trump say?
During his state visit this week, Donald Trump said: “I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.”
In July, after Canada announced its intention to recognise Palestine, a White House official said there was no way the US president would follow suit: “He would be rewarding Hamas if he recognises a Palestinian state, and he doesn’t think they should be rewarded.
“So he is not going to do that. President Trump’s focus is on getting people fed (in Gaza).”
What is a two-state solution?
The two-state solution for Israel and Palestine has long been the preferred peace option for many in the West.
It would see a Palestinian state established alongside Israel, giving each their own territory.
The proposed solution remains the official position of the UK, the US and the United Nations.
But the biggest obstacle remains where Palestine’s borders would lie. Most peace plans envision them on the lines that existed before the Six-Day War of 1967 with mutually agreed land swaps – a formula Mr Netanyahu’s government rejects.
How will this impact the war?
The move is unlikely to bring about immediate change in Israel’s ground offensive into Gaza City, which began earlier this week.
Mr Netanyahu has insisted he will not be deterred in his mission to root out Hamas and this symbolic gesture will have little impact. It could even encourage the Israeli prime minister to heed calls from hardliners in his cabinet to annex large parts of the West Bank.
The main sticking point is the US. Mr Trump has remained steadfastly against recognising Palestinian statehood.
But as international pressure on Israel grows and domestic divisions widen in the US, there may come a tipping point that forces Mr Netanyahu’s hand or a Mr Trump U-turn.
A protester carries his daughter on his shoulders during a demonstration against the war in Gaza in Jerusalem on Saturday – AFP
What is Israel’s response?
Sir Keir announced in July plans to follow France in recognising Palestine in response to rising concerns over Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel and the families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have condemned the decision, accusing him of “rewarding terrorism”.
Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time of the announcement: “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims.
“A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.”
Emily Damari, a British-Israeli former hostage, said the move was a “moral failure”, equating it to recognising Nazi occupation in Europe.
Israeli soldiers launch a drone near the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday – REUTERS
Which other countries have recognised Palestine?
Britain follows a number of major G20 countries in recognising Palestinian statehood, including China, Brazil, Russia, Argentina, South Africa and Mexico.
Many countries in the EU have also recognised Palestine, among them Ireland, Poland, Sweden and Bulgaria.
In the past few months, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal have indicated they will also back the territory’s statehood claims.
But most importantly, many countries including the US, Germany, Italy and Japan have refused to recognise Palestine.
Have your say
What does it mean to recognise Palestine as a state?
Palestine is recognised as a state by 147 out of 193 United Nation members. It has diplomatic missions abroad and competes in sports events.
However, it lacks sovereign control of its borders, which international law traditionally considers a key criterion of statehood under the non-binding Montevideo Convention of 1933.
Therefore, the UK’s decision to recognise Palestine is mostly symbolic and will change little.
Yet Britain believes it will be delivering a firm message to Israel, one that signals its displeasure with Israel’s accelerating settlement policies in the West Bank, deplores its widening war in Gaza and upholds its commitment to a two-state solution.
Good afternoon
Welcome to our live coverage as Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce that the UK will recognise Palestine as a state.
The prime minister’s decision means that Palestine, which is formed of the West Bank and Gaza, is entitled to an official embassy in the UK and will be given full diplomatic rights in Britain.
The move comes despite criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK and opposition from the United States.
Critics say it is a “reward for terrorism” and will have no immediate impact on the war in Gaza, while the families of hostages held by Hamas have said it will “complicate” the return of their relatives.
But David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, said on Sunday that it would allow the UK and Palestine to “hold out” for a two-state solution in the region.
We will keep you updated on all the key moments throughout the day.
