UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has formally recognised the State of Palestine in a landmark announcement made on 21 September 2025. The UK government says this decision is driven by the urgent need to preserve the viability of a two-state solution, affirming that the Palestinian people have an inalienable right to self-determination. The recognition is part of a coordinated international effort intended to protect both Israeli and Palestinian rights against threats such as illegal settlement expansion, worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and the continued hostage-taking by Hamas. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK’s stance at the United Nations on 22 September, stressing that recognition must be a catalyst for peace.