{"id":122401,"date":"2025-09-22T03:27:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=122401"},"modified":"2025-09-22T03:27:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:27:27","slug":"uk-recognises-state-of-palestine-after-decades-of-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/uk-recognises-state-of-palestine-after-decades-of-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Recognises State of Palestine After Decades of Conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/div>\n
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British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer on Sunday formally announced that the United Kingdom now recognises the State of Palestine, calling the decision a moral and political necessity to \u201crevive the hope of peace\u201d amid the ongoing war in Gaza.<\/div>\n
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\u201cToday, to revive the hope of peace and a Two State Solution. I state clearly, as Prime Minister of this great country\u2026 that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,\u201d Starmer said while addressing the nation.<\/div>\n
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The declaration comes against the backdrop of nearly two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, which followed Hamas\u2019 deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Prime Minister began by recalling the anguish of hostages still held by Hamas, nearly two years on. \u201cAlmost two years after the barbaric attacks of 7 October\u2026 hostages are still held by the terrorists of Hamas. Recent images show the hostages suffering and emaciated. Hamas refuses even to release all the bodies of the dead,\u201d he said, describing the group as a \u201cbrutal terror organisation\u201d with \u201cno role in government and no role in security.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Starmer emphasised that recognition of Palestine was not a reward to Hamas but a signal of Britain\u2019s commitment to a lasting two-state solution. \u201cWe have already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas\u2026 and we will go further. I have directed the sanction of other Hamas figures in the coming weeks,\u201d he added.<\/div>\n
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The Prime Minister painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed and aid delivery remains critically restricted. \u201cThe bombardment has intensified. The starvation continues. Tens of thousands have died among them, civilians just collecting food or water,\u201d he lamented, while urging Israel to lift restrictions at border crossings to allow vital supplies in.<\/div>\n
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Starmer warned that current Israeli settlement expansions in the West Bank further jeopardise peace, urging both sides to step back from entrenched positions. \u201cAt this moment, there is neither a safe and secure Israel, nor a viable Palestinian state,\u201d he noted, stressing that recognition is intended to anchor future peace efforts in international legitimacy.<\/div>\n
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The Prime Minister drew a symbolic comparison with history, reminding that the UK recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago. \u201cNow, alongside more than 150 other nations, Britain extends recognition to the Palestinian people. This is not only a signal to the world, but a pledge to Israelis and Palestinians alike: that a better future is still possible,\u201d he declared.<\/div>\n
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His speech also carried an appeal to the British public, acknowledging the polarisation and protests that the Gaza war has stirred at home. \u201cI know the depth of feeling on all sides\u2026 But we must reject hatred and fear. We must reject antisemitism and Islamophobia. We must reject the voices who want to divide us,\u201d Starmer urged.<\/div>\n
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The recognition aligns Britain with recent moves by Canada and Australia, and adds to mounting international momentum for a Palestinian state. But the move drew sharp criticism from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissing it as \u201can absurd prize for terrorism\u201d and reiterating his government\u2019s opposition to any Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.<\/div>\n
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Palestinian leaders, however, welcomed London\u2019s decision as a long overdue step toward correcting historical injustice. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described it as \u201ca courageous decision that strengthens the path toward a just and lasting peace, where two states live side by side.\u201d<\/div>\n
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It’s believed that the move could embolden other European countries still hesitant to follow suit. Yet it also risks further straining London\u2019s relations with Jerusalem, which has repeatedly insisted that Palestinian statehood must only come through direct negotiations.<\/div>\n
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Starmer concluded his address with a call for unity and renewed hope: \u201cWe demand the release of the hostages. We demand 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 side<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n