The UK is holding discussions with France and Saudi Arabia over the official recognition of a Palestinian State.
According to the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, this move could take place at the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which Saudi Arabia will co-chair alongside France in June.
UK Recognition of Palestine
Speaking to the Lords international relations select committee, Lammy pointed out that the UK wanted to take this step when it would have tangible results, not just as a symbolic gesture, reported The Guardian.
The UK Foreign Secretary added that some European countries’ recognition of Palestine had not made any change on the ground, noting that the UK wants this recognition to be part of a political process that achieves progress and leads to two states.
“It’s unacceptable for any group of people to have lived with no state for longer than I’ve been alive,” he told the committee.
“No one has a veto on when the UK recognizes that Palestinian state … We have always said that recognition is not an end in of itself and we will prefer recognition as a part of a process to two states,” Lammy said.
The Viable Solution
Lammy told the committee that a long-term solution would involve Hamas not governing Gaza and a full demilitarization process of the Strip. He also voiced concern regarding Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which “undermines the viability of the two states,” adding that settlement violence levels were “shocking.”
Additionally, Lammy criticized Israel for blocking aid entry into Gaza for 60 days. “The blockade of necessary aid into Gaza is horrendous, the suffering is dire, the need is huge, the loss of life is extreme,” he noted.
Strengthening UK-Palestinian Ties
On April 28, 2025, the Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, visited the UK, in his first official visit to the country since 2021, upon the invitation of the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.
The invitation “reflects the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people at a critical juncture in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and desire to further strengthen bilateral relations,” the British government said in a press release.
During the visit, the UK reiterated its unwavering commitment to advancing a two-state solution as the only pathway to achieving just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It also stressed that the PA is the only legitimate governing entity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Fostering Partnership
During the visit, the PA and the UK signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen the partnership between both governments.
Moreover, the MoU establishes a new framework to guide and enhance the strategic partnership, and high-level dialogue across areas of mutual interest and benefit, including economic development and institutional reform. It also emphasizes the commitment of the PA to deliver its reform agenda as a matter of priority.
Two-State Solution Conference
Saudi Arabia and France have called for an international conference to advance peace and implement the two-state solution, in a bid to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In December 2024, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced during a visit to Saudi Arabia, that he and the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, would co-chair a conference in June 2025 focused on establishing a Palestinian state.
“President Macron has had a lot to say about that, most recently, alongside the Saudis, and of course we are in discussion with them at this time,” Lammy said, referring to the conference.
International Recognition
So far, 160 countries recognize Palestine, including most recently Spain, Norway and Ireland. The recognition of Palestine by France and the UK – two permanent UN Security Council Members – would add weight to the list of states recognizing Palestine. However, it would face diplomatic hurdles as Israel – a key ally of both countries – is opposing the move.
Earlier in April, Macron unveiled that France plans to recognize Palestine in June. “Our goal is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June. We aim to finalize reciprocal recognition by several countries,” the French President said following his visit to Egypt.
The French recognition of Palestine would be the first by a G7 member state. Macron said that the move was aimed to “trigger a series of other recognitions … including the recognition of Israel by states that do not currently do so.”
