Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
The move comes after the prime minister said in July the UK would shift its position in September unless Israel met conditions including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term sustainable peace deal that delivers a two-state solution.
It represents a major change in British foreign policy after successive governments said recognition should come as part of a peace process and at a time of maximum impact.
The move has drawn fierce criticism from the Israeli government, hostage families and some Conservatives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said such a move 'rewards terror'.
However, UK ministers argue there was a moral responsibility to act to keep the hope of a long-term peace deal alive. Government sources indicated that the situation on the ground had worsened significantly in the last few weeks, citing images showing starvation and violence in Gaza, described by the prime minister as 'intolerable'.
Israel's latest ground operation in Gaza City, labeled as 'cataclysmic' by a UN official, has compelled hundreds of thousands of people to flee. Earlier this week, a United Nations commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim denounced by Israel as 'distorted and false'.
Ministers also pointed to the ongoing expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a contributing factor to the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Justice Secretary David Lammy highlighted the controversial E1 settlement project, warning it threatens the viability of a contiguous Palestinian state. He asserted, 'The recognition of a Palestinian state is as a consequence of the serious expansion that we're seeing in the West Bank, the settler violence, and the indications for further development that would disrupt the two-state solution.'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK's recognition pledge when visiting Starmer, agreeing that Hamas must not play a role in future Palestinian governance.
While Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch advocated for a two-state solution, she criticized the timing of recognition without the release of hostages held by Hamas, calling it a reward for terrorism.
An open letter from families of hostages urged Starmer to delay recognition until they are returned. The government's commitment to sanction Hamas in the coming weeks was signaled, amidst a broader backdrop of international calls for recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Several countries have expressed intentions to recognize a Palestinian state, reflecting a significant shift in diplomatic stances as discussions around the Palestinian situation gain momentum again. Recognition has traditionally been seen as an indicator of support for peace efforts aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The move comes after the prime minister said in July the UK would shift its position in September unless Israel met conditions including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term sustainable peace deal that delivers a two-state solution.
It represents a major change in British foreign policy after successive governments said recognition should come as part of a peace process and at a time of maximum impact.
The move has drawn fierce criticism from the Israeli government, hostage families and some Conservatives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said such a move 'rewards terror'.
However, UK ministers argue there was a moral responsibility to act to keep the hope of a long-term peace deal alive. Government sources indicated that the situation on the ground had worsened significantly in the last few weeks, citing images showing starvation and violence in Gaza, described by the prime minister as 'intolerable'.
Israel's latest ground operation in Gaza City, labeled as 'cataclysmic' by a UN official, has compelled hundreds of thousands of people to flee. Earlier this week, a United Nations commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim denounced by Israel as 'distorted and false'.
Ministers also pointed to the ongoing expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a contributing factor to the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Justice Secretary David Lammy highlighted the controversial E1 settlement project, warning it threatens the viability of a contiguous Palestinian state. He asserted, 'The recognition of a Palestinian state is as a consequence of the serious expansion that we're seeing in the West Bank, the settler violence, and the indications for further development that would disrupt the two-state solution.'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UK's recognition pledge when visiting Starmer, agreeing that Hamas must not play a role in future Palestinian governance.
While Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch advocated for a two-state solution, she criticized the timing of recognition without the release of hostages held by Hamas, calling it a reward for terrorism.
An open letter from families of hostages urged Starmer to delay recognition until they are returned. The government's commitment to sanction Hamas in the coming weeks was signaled, amidst a broader backdrop of international calls for recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Several countries have expressed intentions to recognize a Palestinian state, reflecting a significant shift in diplomatic stances as discussions around the Palestinian situation gain momentum again. Recognition has traditionally been seen as an indicator of support for peace efforts aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
