In a landmark move, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced the formal recognition of a Palestinian state, marking a significant shift in British foreign policy. The decision, unveiled in a video statement on X, aligns the UK with countries like Australia, Canada, and Portugal, which have also recognized Palestinian statehood. France is expected to follow suit. Starmer emphasized that the recognition aims to preserve the possibility of peace and a two-state solution amidst escalating violence in the Middle East. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared that a Palestinian state ‘will not happen,’ and from families of hostages held in Gaza, who argue it rewards terrorism. The US and Israeli governments view the recognition as a diplomatic victory for Hamas following its October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Starmer countered these claims, asserting that the decision does not legitimize Hamas but instead seeks to isolate the group from future governance. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the move, calling it a step toward peaceful coexistence with Israel. The UK Foreign Office clarified that recognition is based on provisional borders along the 1967 lines, with final boundaries to be negotiated. The two-state solution envisions a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Despite recognition by 75% of UN member states, Palestine lacks internationally agreed borders, a capital, or an army, rendering its statehood largely symbolic. The announcement comes amid worsening conditions in Gaza, where Israeli military operations have displaced hundreds of thousands and caused widespread devastation. A recent UN commission accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel vehemently denies. UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged that recognition alone would not resolve the crisis but stressed the importance of advocating for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Israeli far-right leaders have called for annexing the West Bank and dismantling the Palestinian Authority. The decision has sparked mixed reactions domestically, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labeling it ‘absolutely disastrous,’ while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey praised it as ‘long overdue.’