On Sunday, Britain, Canada, and Australia officially announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood. This coordinated diplomatic action intensifies pressure on Israel to alleviate the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza, while also creating a notable divergence from the stance of the Trump administration.
These synchronized declarations precede the yearly United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, where France and Portugal are also anticipated to cast votes in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state.
Such unified international action is poised to further isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu diplomatically. However, it has, to date, had minimal impact on his military operations against Hamas, which have tragically claimed tens of thousands of lives in Gaza and devastated much of the region.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delayed his government’s decision until after President Trump’s recent state visit. During this visit, Trump voiced his disapproval of the recognition, stating his preference to prioritize efforts to free hostages held by Hamas militants.
During a joint press conference on Thursday, Mr. Trump remarked, “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score,” quickly adding, “One of our few disagreements, actually.”
Back in late July, when Prime Minister Starmer unveiled Britain’s intentions, he emphasized that the final decision would depend on several key conditions. These included Israel addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas to ensure the release of hostages, and committing to a lasting peace with Palestinians rooted in a two-state solution.
Since that time, Israel has carried out bombings targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, the Persian Gulf nation where ceasefire talks have been taking place, consequently making any resolution seem further out of reach. Rather than de-escalating, Israeli forces have intensified their military actions, pushing deeper into Gaza City, the enclave’s primary urban hub.
For Mr. Starmer, whose background includes a career as a human-rights lawyer, this decision represented a difficult tightrope walk. He has consistently aimed to maintain alignment between Britain and the United States on critical global issues, such as trade and the conflict in Ukraine. However, the situation in Gaza presents unique moral and political dilemmas.
During his press conference alongside Mr. Trump, Starmer framed the recognition as one element among broader efforts, including advocating for hostage releases and revitalizing talks for a Palestinian state. He described it as ‘part of the overall package, which hopefully takes us from the appalling situation we’re in now.’
When pressed by a Fox News reporter, who suggested he had delayed the announcement until Mr. Trump’s departure from Britain, Starmer delivered a fervent condemnation of Hamas. This prompted an approving pat on the shoulder from Mr. Trump, who simply stated, ‘That’s good.’
Starmer also highlighted his personal connection to the region, mentioning that extended family members reside in Israel and that his British-born wife, Victoria, is Jewish. He emphasized, ‘I understand, firsthand, the psychological impact’ of the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers in October 2023, adding, ‘So, I know exactly where I stand in relation to Hamas.’
Internal political considerations also influenced Starmer’s decision. There has been growing pressure within his Labour Party and among the wider public to take more decisive action, driven by the widespread dissemination of distressing images and videos depicting the suffering of Palestinians across online platforms and news outlets.
Daniel Levy, who leads the U.S./Middle East Project, a research institute based in London and New York, commented that ‘The U.K. government will hope that this buys them an extended period of quiet without having to take further moves.’ However, he cautioned, ‘But if Israel’s actions continue to be as egregious, aggressive and criminal as is currently the case, then that is highly unlikely to play out.’
Mr. Levy, a former peace negotiator for Israel, further stated, ‘The U.K., along with others, will be under the spotlight of “What has recognition changed?”‘ He predicted that ‘The answer will be nothing, and pressure will again intensify to take more consequential measures.’
Both he and other critics criticize the British government for its perceived inaction thus far. Britain has refrained from accusing Israel of genocide, even amid demands from Labour Members of Parliament and legal experts. Furthermore, despite halting some weapons sales to Israel, it continues to provide components for F-35 fighter jets, which the Israeli Air Force uses in its operations against Gaza.
The government has imposed sanctions on two far-right ministers within Mr. Netanyahu’s cabinet: Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister. Downing Street also indicated the possibility of arresting Mr. Netanyahu should he enter Britain, asserting its commitment to upholding ‘legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law.’ The International Criminal Court had already issued an arrest warrant for him last November.
These actions by Britain have undeniably strained relations with Israel, particularly with Mr. Netanyahu expressing significant displeasure over the plan to recognize Palestine.
In a social media post in July, Mr. Netanyahu claimed the move ‘rewards Hamas monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims,’ further warning that ‘A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.’