What was meant to be a symbolic gesture of peace by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has instead ignited a storm of controversy across the world.
On Sunday, Starmer announced that the UK would formally recognise a future Palestinian state — a move he said was designed to “revive the hope of peace” and preserve the possibility of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
But while Starmer insisted the decision was not about rewarding Hamas, both Israel and domestic critics accused him of doing exactly that.
Hamas Celebrates the Announcement
Almost immediately, Hamas hailed the announcement as a victory, claiming it proved the “justice of our cause.”
The group portrayed the recognition as an endorsement of its struggle, despite Starmer making clear that Hamas would have “no role” in any future Palestinian government.
Israel Brands Starmer a Betrayer
Israeli leaders reacted with outrage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the decision, saying it rewarded “terror with an enormous prize” just two years after the October 7 massacre.
He vowed that “there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River,” warning that such recognition only emboldens extremists.
Other Israeli officials echoed the fury. Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset, branded Starmer a “modern-day appeaser,” while May Golan, Israel’s minister for social equality, accused him of legitimising “modern-day Nazis” who carried out the October 7 atrocities.
Families of Hostages Feel Betrayed
For families of those still held captive in Gaza, the decision felt like a betrayal.
Adam Ma’anit, cousin of murdered hostage Tsachi Idan, described it as nothing less than abandoning the hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK added that Britain had “emboldened Hamas instead of confronting it.”
Fierce Criticism at Home
Back in the UK, the backlash was just as fierce. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it “absolutely disastrous,” claiming it left hostages in Gaza and achieved nothing for innocent civilians.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel accused Starmer of “capitulating to hard-Left factions,” while Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson dismissed the move as about “peace in the Labour Party, not peace in the Middle East.”
Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove went further, saying on Times Radio he was “ashamed” of what he called a “ridiculous decision” that made it look like Hamas had secured a major diplomatic victory.
Shifts in UK Foreign Policy
The recognition was not just symbolic rhetoric. On Sunday, Foreign Office web pages quietly updated references from “Occupied Palestinian Territories” to “Palestine.”
Starmer argued this was part of a broader effort to keep alive the idea of a two-state solution, based on pre-1967 borders with a shared capital in Jerusalem.
He condemned Israel’s bombardment of Gaza as “intolerable,” pointing to starvation and devastation on the ground.
At the same time, he stressed that the move was “the exact opposite of Hamas’s hateful vision,” promising new sanctions against the group.
Other Nations Join the Move
The UK was not alone. France, Portugal, and Belgium are set to follow suit during the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
Australia and Canada also recognised Palestinian statehood alongside Britain on Sunday, deepening the international divide over the issue.
Government Acknowledges Limits
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy admitted the decision would not end the war in Gaza, which has continued for nearly two years since October 7. Speaking on the BBC, he said bluntly: “Will this feed children? No… that’s down to humanitarian aid.
Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire.”