What does the pledge mean?

Palestine is currently designated by the United Nations (UN) as a “permanent observer state”, a form of non-member state, meaning it cannot vote on decisions made by the UN’s main organs and bodies, such as the General Assembly.

However, the majority of UN member states have formally recognised Palestine. According to media reports, as of July 2025, some 147 UN member states formally recognised Palestinian statehood, not including France, which in the same month committed to recognising Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September 2025.

The UK is not included in this figure, although it does have a Consulate General in Jerusalem to assist British nationals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Labour’s manifesto committed to formally recognising a Palestinian state “as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution”.

A “two-state solution” refers to a proposed framework to resolve the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which a sovereign Palestinian state is established alongside Israel. Previous efforts at a peace process did not result in a sovereign Palestinian state.

UK governments have long been in favour of a two-state solution as well as recognising a Palestinian state as part of a process towards that goal. All members of the G7 group of countries have pledged support for a two-state solution, as has the EU and China.

Labour’s manifesto did not spell out the conditions which would need to be met for the government to consider recognition of a Palestinian state as a “contribution” to a renewed two-state peace process, or at what stage it would occur, with senior government ministers instead saying the decision would be taken at a time when it might have the greatest impact on a peace process.

What progress has been made?

On 29 July 2025 the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognise Palestine as a state in September, ahead of the UN General Assembly, unless Israel meets certain conditions.

The move came shortly after the government was urged to recognise a Palestinian state by a cross-party group of more than 200 MPs, while the Foreign Affairs Committee recommended in the same month that the government should recognise a Palestinian state “now”, without conditions.

Mr Starmer said that the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood in September “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution”.

He added that Israel must also allow the UN to restart the supply of aid, and make clear there will be “no annexations in the West Bank”.

In response to the UK’s position, the Israeli foreign ministry said recognising Palestine as a state “constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages”.

In his announcement Mr Starmer also demanded that Hamas “must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza”.

While some observers have said Israel’s response appears to amount to a rejection of the conditions the UK has listed, because recognition remains dependent on Israel’s actions between now and September we’re currently rating this pledge as “wait and see”.

It has been reported that a number of UK peers have questioned the legal basis for any recognition of a Palestinian state. We’ve contacted the government for comment on this.