Shafaqna English- More than 100 years after the Balfour Declaration supported “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” and 77 years after the creation of Israel in the British Mandate of Palestine, the United Kingdom is poised to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Multiple recognitions are expected despite strong pushback from Israel and the US amid intensifying attacks on Gaza.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to make the announcement on Sunday (21 Sep 2025), two days before the start of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where Palestinian sovereignty after decades of occupation and apartheid by Israel will be in focus.
The move comes after the UK’s government said in July that it would shift its longstanding approach of holding off recognition until a supposed moment of maximum impact – unless Israel stops its genocidal war in Gaza, commits to a long-term sustainable peace process that delivers a two-state solution, and allows more aid into the enclave.
But the catastrophic situation in Gaza has only grown significantly more dire over the past few weeks, as the Israeli military continues to systematically destroy Gaza City to seize it, while continuing to starve and displace the famine-stricken population of the enclave.
Sources: Aljazeera