UK Recognition of Palestine is important, but it must not be a valve to release pressure on UK Government complicity in Gaza genocide
London, 21st September 2025- Today, the UK Government has finally recognised the State of Palestine. This is an important step, but it cannot merely be symbolic. It means nothing to recognise Palestine if the UK remains complicit in Israel’s genocide against in Gaza.
This month, eight countries plan to recognise Palestine, which will bring the total number up to 155 UN member states out of 193. It is important that the UK has finally joined the majority of countries around the globe.
Recognition is symbolic, particularly from the UK, given its colonial legacy in Palestine. It is also especially important at a time where Israel is pursuing the effective erasure and annexation of Palestine, in both Gaza and the West Bank. Whether it is through the genocide in Gaza or the illegal settlement expansions in the West Bank, countries around the world have a duty to recognise Palestine and work through all means including diplomatic ones to prevent its eradication.
However, the decision to recognise Palestine, whilst important, was initially pronounced to be conditional on the Israeli government’s actions. The UK Government initially announced in July that it would recognise Palestine if Israel failed to fulfil certain conditions around its ‘conduct’. Such conditions are an insult to the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, the UK should have recognised Palestine unconditionally, long ago. Recognition is not a bargaining chip.
Also, recognition cannot merely be symbolic. It means nothing to recognise a state’s existence whilst doing nothing tangible to prevent its eradication. Not only does the UK fail to protect Palestine’s sovereignty, but it is actively complicit in the genocide taking place in Gaza, through its continued supply of arms to Israel via the F-35 loophole.
Recognition must not be a valve to release pressure on the UK Government complicity in the Gaza genocide. It must end its complicity and take concrete action to hold Israel to account. Most urgently, this requires the UK to call for the dismantling of the so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ and its replacement with UN-led coordination mechanisms. It also requires the UK to clarify its use of spy planes from RAF Akrotiri, close the F-35 loophole for arms exports, and introduce safe passage for Palestinian refugees that guarantees the right of return.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- Contact the ICJP press team at press@icjpalestine.com.
Photo Credit: Mx. Granger (Wikimedia Commons).
