London – September 2025: The United Kingdom is set to formally recognize the State of Palestine this weekend, in what officials are describing as a “historic and long-overdue step” toward advancing peace in the Middle East.
According to diplomatic sources, the move had originally been timed to coincide with last week’s United Nations General Assembly session. However, the announcement was quietly delayed to avoid further friction with Washington, where then–President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were openly backing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
By proceeding now, the UK government is signaling a clear shift in its foreign policy. British officials have stressed that recognition of Palestine is not merely symbolic but an affirmation of what they call the “legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.” They argue the step is essential to keeping the two-state solution viable, at a time when it risks collapse under the weight of conflict and political stalemate.
Several European allies including France, Ireland, Norway, and Spain have already taken the step, and London’s decision means the UK will now join more than 147 countries worldwide that officially recognize Palestine as a state.
Diplomats say the announcement is expected to draw both praise and criticism, but for Britain, it represents a firm stance on what leaders describe as “a matter of justice, principle, and peace.”
