Palestine–United Kingdom relations

The United Kingdom does not recognise Palestine as a state.^[1] The UK has a non-accredited Consulate General in Jerusalem that "represents the UK government in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza", and works on "political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and the Palestinian territories".^[2] Husam Zomlot became head of the Palestine Mission to the United Kingdom in 2018.^[3][4] Palestine was represented in London by Manuel Hassassian,^[5] the Palestinian General Delegate to the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2018. Another former Palestinian General Delegate to the UK was Afif Safieh, who began in that role in 1990.^{[citation needed]} The UK House of Commons voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state in 2014, as a contribution towards achieving a negotiated two-state solution.^[6] However, the UK government maintained its policy of reserving the right to recognise Palestine bilaterally at a more opportune time for peace efforts.

British–Palestinian relations

Palestine	United Kingdom

History

Further information: Mandatory Palestine

British Foreign Secretary William Hague meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2013

Since the Six-Day War, the British government has been active to achieve a diplomatic settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The issue of a Palestinian state was raised already in July 1967 by Labour MP Paul Rose.^[7] Margaret Thatcher generally supported a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation and was willing to consider some Palestine Liberation Organization involvement in this solution.^[8]

In February 2021, the British Consul-General in Jerusalem, Philip Hall, condemned settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories as "illegal and an obstacle to restarting peace talks" between Israel and Palestine.^[9] That same month, the Court of First Instance in Nablus ruled that the British government's Balfour Declaration in 1917 was invalid and called on the British government to issue an apology to the Palestinian people.^[10] In April, the Palestinian government said that relations had reached a "low point" after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his opposition to an International Criminal Court investigation into alleged war crimes in the Israeli-occupied territories.^[11][12] In May, Pro-Palestinian protests were held in London during that month's Israel–Palestine crisis.^[13]

In April 28 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa in Downing Street. Keir Starmer began by expressing his sincere condolences for the appalling loss of life in Gaza. He said that the UK does not support the resumption in hostilities, which are in nobody’s interests. He added that the UK will continue to press for a return to the ceasefire as a first step to a lasting peace, and reiterated that the return of humanitarian aid into Gaza is critical. He also said that we must not lose sight of the situation in the West Bank, where unlawful settlement and violence is of deep concern. Discussing the Arab Plan for Gaza, Keir Starmer shared the UK’s support for the Palestinian Authority’s reform programme, which he said is critical. The leaders agreed that a strategic political framework will be necessary as part of the implementation of a two-state solution, and that Hamas must have no role in Gaza’s governance. They both agreed that the UK would continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority and regional partners to find a constructive way forward, and deliver lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.^[14]

 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: PM meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa of the Palestinian Authority: 28 April 2025

Economic relations

From 1 July 1997 until 30 December 2020, trade between the Palestinian Authority and the UK was governed by the Palestinian Authority–European Union Association Agreement, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.^[15] Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and the Palestinian Authority signed a continuity trade agreement on 18 February 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.^[16][17] Trade value between Palestinian Authority and the United Kingdom was worth £69 million in 2022.^[18]

Possible recognition of Palestine

Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London in May 2021

In October 2014, the UK House of Commons passed a motion which called on the government to recognise Palestine as an independent state.^[19] Also in October 2014, the devolved government of Scotland called for recognition of Palestine as an independent state and for the UK to open an embassy there.^[20] Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Opposition, is a longtime advocate for Palestinian causes and repeatedly pledged to recognise the country if elected.^[21]

In January 2024 the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron indicated that the United Kingdom could formally recognise and establish diplomatic relations to a Palestinian state during the negotiations for a peace deal of the Gaza war.^[22] Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot remarked that it is the “first time a UK foreign secretary considers recognising the State of Palestine, bilaterally and in the UN, as a contribution to a peaceful solution rather than an outcome”.^[23]

On 8 February 2024, then-Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that a Labour government would consider unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state if they entered government in the 2024 general election.^[24]

On 29 July 2025, prime minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom "will recognise Palestinian statehood in September ahead of the United Nations General Assembly unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution".^[25] On the same day, Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a similar announcement at a UN conference on the implementation of the two-state solution.^[26] In response, Hamas praised the decision as "one of the fruits of October 7". This statement prompted criticism from Labour MPs and families of hostages, who called for a delay in recognition until all hostages are released.^[27]

Controversies

The BBC's relations with Palestine were tested in February 2025 when it withdrew a controversial documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, after discovering serious flaws in its production. The film, narrated by a 13-year-old boy, Abdullah, was criticized after it emerged that he was the son of a Hamas official, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UK. Following an internal review, the BBC admitted it had failed to uncover this connection during the production process. The BBC and the film's production company, Hoyo Films, both acknowledged mistakes, and the BBC launched an audit to assess the film's finances. The controversy prompted responses from UK government officials, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who called for a rigorous review.^[28]

See also

• Foreign relations of Palestine
• Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
• Palestinian Mission, London
• Consulate General of the United Kingdom, Jerusalem