UK to Recognize Palestinian State despite Israeli Opposition
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Kingdom is preparing to formally recognize the State of Palestine on Sunday, marking a historic policy shift that has angered the Israeli regime, British media reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced in July that recognition would follow if Israel refused to take concrete steps toward a ceasefire with Hamas ahead of the UN General Assembly.
Starmer argued the move would “contribute to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution.”
London’s decision comes as global outrage mounts over Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed and famine declared. The enclave has endured unprecedented destruction, mass civilian deaths, and severe shortages of food and medicine.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Starmer, accusing him of rewarding “monstrous terrorism”.
Britain, historically a firm backer of Israel, is now joining a group of countries—including France—that are set to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
The announcement coincides with Israel’s intensified military offensive against Gaza City, the largest population center in the besieged territory.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has been carrying out a genocide in Gaza which has so far killed over 65,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
The onslaught has displaced hundreds of thousands alongside a blockade on humanitarian aid that has claimed the lives of at least 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.
