Britain, Canada, and Australia officially recognized Palestinian statehood on Sunday. This move aims to pressure Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlights a divergence in policy between these major U.S. allies and the Trump administration.
These seemingly coordinated announcements were made just before the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, where France and Portugal are also anticipated to vote in favor of recognizing Palestinian statehood.
This unified action is expected to further isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu diplomatically. However, it has yet to significantly impact his ongoing military campaign against Hamas, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties in Gaza and devastated much of the region.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delayed his country’s recognition until after President Trump’s state visit to Britain last week. During the visit, Mr. Trump expressed disagreement with the move, stating his preference to prioritize securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.
At a joint news conference with Mr. Starmer on Thursday, Mr. Trump remarked, “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score,” though he quickly added, “One of our few disagreements, actually.”
When Starmer initially announced Britain’s intentions in late July, he outlined several conditions for the final decision. He stated that Israel needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, commit to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas for hostage release, and work towards a lasting peace with the Palestinians through a two-state solution.
Image: Palestinian Families Flee Gaza City
Heartbreaking scenes emerged this month as Palestinian families were seen fleeing Gaza City, amidst intensified Israeli attacks.
Since those announcements, Israel has conducted bombing campaigns targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, a Persian Gulf state previously hosting ceasefire negotiations. This has made any potential agreement even harder to achieve. Instead of de-escalating, Israeli forces have intensified their combat operations, pushing further into Gaza’s primary urban center, Gaza City.
For Mr. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, this decision has been a difficult balancing act. He has consistently aimed to maintain strong alignment between Britain and the United States on matters such as trade and the conflict in Ukraine. However, the situation in Gaza presents unique moral and political dilemmas.
During his joint press conference with Mr. Trump, Mr. Starmer framed the recognition as one element of a broader strategy, which includes advocating for hostage releases and rekindling negotiations for an independent Palestinian state. He described recognition 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 delayed the announcement until Mr. Trump’s departure, Mr. Starmer delivered a powerful condemnation of Hamas, earning an approving gesture from Mr. Trump, who simply said, “That’s good.”
Mr. Starmer highlighted his personal connection to the region, noting that he has extended family living in Israel and that his British-born wife, Victoria, is Jewish. He stated, “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.”
Domestic political considerations also influenced Mr. Starmer’s decision. Within his Labour Party and among the wider public, there has been increasing pressure to act, fueled by widespread media coverage and distressing images and videos of Palestinian suffering.
Image: Starmer and Trump at Press Conference
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump are pictured after a news conference held outside London on Thursday. During the event, Mr. Trump voiced his disagreement with Britain’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state.
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 Israeli peace negotiator, further stated, “The U.K., along with others, will be under the spotlight of ‘What has recognition changed?’” He predicted, “The answer will be nothing, and pressure will again intensify to take more consequential measures.”
Critics, including Labour members of Parliament and legal experts, have chastised the British government for not taking more decisive action. Britain has avoided officially accusing Israel of genocide, despite such calls, and continues to supply parts for F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli Air Force in Gaza, even after suspending some other weapons sales.
The British government has imposed sanctions on two far-right ministers in Mr. Netanyahu’s cabinet: Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister. Furthermore, Downing Street indicated that Mr. Netanyahu could face arrest if he entered Britain, affirming its commitment to “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, with Mr. Netanyahu expressing particular displeasure over the plan to recognize Palestine.
In July, Mr. Netanyahu took to social media, asserting that the recognition “rewards Hamas monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims.” He added a stark warning: “A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.”