The United Kingdom officially recognised the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025, the day before France. Keir Starmer announced it in a speech from Downing Street: "We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago. Today, we join more than 150 countries that also recognise a Palestinian state." But to understand the weight of this decision, we need to go back to 1917. It was indeed the British government which, through the Balfour Declaration, paved the way for the creation of Israel on lands predominantly populated by Palestinians. More than a century later, recognising Palestine represents for the United Kingdom a form of acknowledgement of this historical responsibility.
For the history of the context that led to this situation, read our article on the Nakba: history, significance and memory of a people. And for all the countries that have recognised Palestine, see our article on which countries support Palestine.
What is the United Kingdom's historical responsibility in the Palestinian question?
On 2 November 1917, Arthur James Balfour, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, sent a 67-word letter to Lord Walter Rothschild, representative of the British Jewish community. This letter — the Balfour Declaration — expressed the support of His Majesty's Government for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people", while specifying that "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." The second clause would be ignored. Author Arthur Koestler summarised this declaration with a cutting phrase: "One nation solemnly promised to a second the territory of a third."
The Balfour Declaration is not an altruistic act. It responds to strategic imperatives in the midst of the First World War: to obtain the support of American and Russian Jewish communities for the allied war effort. It also violates two prior commitments by London: the promises made in 1916 to Sherif Hussein to support Arab independence in exchange for a revolt against the Ottoman Empire, and the Sykes-Picot agreement signed the same year with France, which provided for an internationalisation of Palestine — without a Jewish national home. In a 1919 memorandum, Balfour himself acknowledged: "In Palestine we do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabitants of the country."
From 1920 to 1948, Palestine was under British Mandate. Over 28 years, London administered a territory torn between the aspirations of the Jewish and Arab communities, encouraged massive Jewish immigration from Europe — especially during the Nazi persecutions of the 1930s — while suppressing the Arab revolt of 1936-1939. When the violence became uncontrollable, unable to keep its contradictory promises to both peoples, the United Kingdom handed the problem to the UN in 1947 and withdrew. On 15 May 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed. In the days that followed, 700,000 Palestinians began the forced exodus of the Nakba. Britain's responsibility in this tragedy is central — and has never been officially acknowledged.
In 2017, on the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) organised a lobbying day at Parliament under the slogan: "It is time the British government finally made amends." Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot described the September 2025 recognition as "a significant step in addressing the profound injustice rooted in the Balfour Declaration". Our dedicated article on the evolution of the map of Palestine illustrates the effects of the Balfour Declaration on the Palestinian people.
What was British policy on Palestine from 1948 to 2023?
After 1948, the United Kingdom adopted an ambiguous position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It recognised Israel but maintained relations with Arab countries. It verbally supported the two-state solution but refused to recognise Palestine until 2025. Its position was aligned with that of the United States and the principle of anchoring in the Oslo Accords: recognition could only occur at the end of a negotiated peace process between the two parties. This stance effectively gave Israel a veto over Palestinian recognition — as long as Israel refused to negotiate seriously, the UK would not act.
For decades, this position was maintained by all successive governments — Conservative and Labour alike. Tony Blair engaged in peace processes after Oslo. Gordon Brown and David Cameron maintained the status quo. Theresa May and Boris Johnson expressed rhetorical support for the two-state solution without taking any concrete steps. During the 2014 war in Gaza, the Cameron government refused to condemn the Israeli operation with any firmness. In 2023, after 7 October, Rishi Sunak expressed "unwavering" support for Israel and described pro-Palestinian demonstrations as "contrary to British values" — provoking strong protests from a large part of civil society.
How did Keir Starmer recognise Palestine in 2025?
On 29 July 2025, Keir Starmer urgently recalled his Cabinet during the summer holidays — a rare meeting in the middle of August — to discuss the situation in Gaza. The reason: a UN-backed food security organisation had just declared that "the worst famine scenario" was unfolding in the enclave, with more than 60,000 Palestinians killed according to Gaza's health ministry. Starmer then announced that the UK would recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, unless Israel took "substantial measures" to improve the humanitarian situation, accepted a ceasefire, renounced the annexation of the West Bank and committed to a two-state solution. Israel took none of these measures.
On 21 September 2025, Starmer read from Downing Street the official declaration of recognition of the State of Palestine. He reiterated his conditions towards Hamas — release of hostages, disarmament, withdrawal from governance of Gaza — while affirming that recognition was a necessary step to "keep alive the hope of a two-state solution". The decision was welcomed by more than 250 Labour MPs who had signed a letter calling for recognition. Netanyahu responded that Starmer was "rewarding Hamas terrorism". Trump, when asked, said he had "no position" on the British decision — a rare distance taken from Israel.
This decision marks a historic break: for decades, the British position had effectively given Israel a veto over Palestinian recognition. Starmer broke this precedent, joining the 150 countries that had already recognised Palestine — and bringing several other nations along in his wake.
What is the pro-Palestinian mobilisation in the United Kingdom?
Since October 2023, the United Kingdom has been the scene of some of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the world, relative to population. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), founded in 1982, is one of the oldest and best-structured Palestinian solidarity organisations in Europe. It coordinates a network of local branches across the country, trade unions, academic and cultural organisations. At the demonstration of 21 October 2023 in London, more than 100,000 people marched. Demonstrations have been repeated every month since — the PSC announces having organised 21 major national marches from October 2023 to November 2025.
These demonstrations have been the subject of permanent tension with the authorities. Under Rishi Sunak (2022-2024), the government made several attempts to impose restrictions on pro-Palestinian gatherings, even threatening to ban marches around Parliament. Palestinian protesters blocked access to Instro Precision Ltd, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems — the Israeli arms manufacturer — in Kent in 2023. Academics, doctors, teachers and healthcare workers joined these actions. Under Keir Starmer, the tension has eased but the mobilisation remains intense — 21 national marches organised by the PSC since October 2023.
Leading British figures have taken a stand. Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, has been campaigning for Palestine for decades. Andrew Garfield publicly expressed his support for Gaza. Emma Watson, Cate Blanchett, Susan Sarandon signed open letters. Zayn Malik relayed humanitarian appeals. For the full list of engaged figures, read our Top 25 pro-Palestinian figures.
What is the Palestinian community in the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom is home to a significant Arab community, with a Palestinian presence concentrated mainly in London, Birmingham, Manchester and major university cities. The Palestinian community in the UK is estimated at several tens of thousands of people — often from families who had passed through Lebanon, Jordan or Gulf countries. Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot, himself Palestinian from Gaza, played a key role in diplomatic negotiations with the British government. His posting in London since 2021 allowed a permanent dialogue channel to be maintained, which contributed to preparing the 2025 recognition.
The pro-Palestinian student movement in the UK is also very active: universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, University College London and SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) saw solidarity encampments set up in 2024, and several student unions voted motions to divest university funds linked to Israel.
Show your solidarity with Palestine from the United Kingdom
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Sources
— UK Government / Globalsecurity.org, PM statement on the recognition of Palestine, 21 September 2025.
— House of Commons Library, UK, Canada, France statements on recognising a Palestinian state 2025, July 2026.
— Al Jazeera, Starmer says UK will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel halts Gaza war, July 2025.
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign, National marches for Palestine, 2023-2025.
— United Nations, History of the question of Palestine.
Frequently asked questions about the United Kingdom and Palestine
When did the United Kingdom recognise the State of Palestine?
The United Kingdom officially recognised the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025, the day before France. Keir Starmer announced it in a speech from Downing Street. He had set his conditions on 29 July 2025, giving Israel until September to take "substantial measures" — which Israel did not do.
What is the United Kingdom's historical role in the creation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
The United Kingdom administered Palestine under Mandate from 1920 to 1948. The 1917 Balfour Declaration had expressed British support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine — a decision taken without consulting the Arab inhabitants, who then represented more than 90% of the population. London encouraged massive Jewish immigration while making contradictory promises to the Arabs. When the situation became unmanageable, the United Kingdom handed the problem to the UN and withdrew in 1948 — leaving behind the conditions for a conflict that has lasted ever since.
How many pro-Palestinian demonstrations have there been in the United Kingdom since 2023?
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised at least 21 major national marches from October 2023 to November 2025. The first, on 21 October 2023, brought together more than 100,000 people in London. These demonstrations were repeated every month, making the United Kingdom one of the countries with the most sustained pro-Palestinian mobilisation in Europe.
What is the Palestine Solidarity Campaign?
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is a British organisation founded in 1982, one of the oldest and most structured in Europe on Palestinian solidarity. It coordinates national demonstrations, divestment campaigns in universities, and lobbies Parliament. Its deputy director Ryvka Barnard is one of the most visible voices of the British pro-Palestinian movement.
Does Boutique Palestine deliver to the United Kingdom?
Yes, Boutique Palestine delivers to the United Kingdom with free shipping, in 5 to 8 business days. All our Palestinian products are available for British customers.