KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Kingdom (UK) is expected to recognise the State of Palestine today (Sunday), following Israel’s failure to meet conditions set out by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July, according to media reports.
Starmer is set to make the announcement after concluding that the humanitarian situation has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks, The Guardian reported.
In July, Starmer stated that the UK would recognise Palestine ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly if the situation on the ground did not improve.
Alongside the ongoing military offensive and deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the UK government has also expressed serious concern over Israeli plans to accelerate settlement expansion in the West Bank—moves which ministers fear could permanently undermine any hope for a two-state solution.
Labour has emphasised that recognising a Palestinian state is not a reward for Hamas. The party has stressed that Hamas would play no role in the future governance of Gaza.
It is expected that the government will impose further sanctions on Hamas in due course, while also intensifying its demands for the release of hostages.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country would officially recognise the State of Palestine today (Sunday), ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting.
The UK, France, Canada and Australia are among a new wave of countries expected to formally recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly next week.
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