The United Kingdom has officially recognised Palestine as a state.Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced this in a post on X, on Sunday.
“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” the prime minister said on X.
In July, the prime minister had asked Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to end its starvation tactics and allow the supply of aid into Gaza.
He had warned that failure to do this would make UK recognise Palestinian statehood.
UK’s official recognition comes on the eve of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
Before he made this announcement, Starmer had hosted US President Donald Trump in London, a move similar to what happened in July when he issued the warning.
Canada and Australia also officially recognised Palestinian statehood on Sunday.
Ireland, Spain and Norway all officially recognised a Palestinian state last year.
Speaking on the significance of the recognition, Dr Julie Norman, an associate professor at UCL specialising in Middle Eastern politics, told UK Independent that the development would mean voting for Palestine at the United Nations – but it would be unlikely the UN would be able to recognise Palestinian statehood due to the probability of the United States blocking the move.
However, she said countries such as the UK and France voting for recognition at the UN would be a “significant” move.
“It would be a strong moral commitment and stance to Palestine at a moment when it’s never been more fraught in Gaza and the West Bank.
“In the short term, it’s a diplomatic stance, and it makes room for policy changes.
“Also, if and when parties come back to discuss the long-term conflict, it would put Palestine in a better position. So it wouldn’t change things immediately, but I would say it still has value,” she said.
She added that the move might initially see more change in London than in Ramallah, a city in the central West Bank that serves as the administrative capital of Palestine – with, for example, the opening of an embassy in the UK capital.
(Daily Trust)
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