A total of 221 British Members of Parliament from multiple political parties have signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to officially recognise Palestine as a state. The letter was sent ahead of a key UN conference on Palestine set to take place in New York on July 28 and 29, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The MPs expressed hope that the conference would prompt the UK government to act on its longstanding commitment to a two-state solution.
The MPs stated that recognising Palestine would be a meaningful step, especially given the UK’s historical role in the region. They pointed to Britain’s past as the mandatory power in Palestine and its role in issuing the Balfour Declaration. Acknowledging these responsibilities, they urged the government to align its policies with its stated support for a two-state solution since 1980.
The letter also referenced a 2014 vote in the House of Commons, where MPs overwhelmingly supported a motion calling on the government to recognise both Israel and Palestine. The current signatories reiterated that this remains their position and asked the Prime Minister to make a formal announcement during next week’s UN conference.
The cross-party letter underlines growing political pressure on the Labour government to take a more active role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also reflects widespread support across Parliament for Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful, negotiated solution.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered in London, demanding food access for Palestinians in Gaza and condemning Israel’s blockade of the territory. On July 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s intent to recognise the Palestinian state and said an official declaration would come at the UN General Assembly in September.