TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Two countries plan to follow France’s lead and recognize Palestine as a state in September. They are the UK and Malta.
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK is prepared to recognize Palestine as a state in September at the United Nations General Assembly. The recognition is in response to the increasing public outrage over images of starving children in Gaza.
Starmer spoke a day after talks in Scotland with U.S. President Donald Trump. He said he had no objection to the UK recognizing Palestine, despite Washington’s longstanding opposition.
The UK will become the second Western power in the UN Security Council to recognize Palestine after France did so last week. Starmer said the UK will recognize Palestine unless Israel takes substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza. He emphasized that there would be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that produces a two-state solution. The Palestinian state will live alongside Israel in peace.
“The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,” Starmer told reporters as quoted by Al Arabiya. “Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”
Starmer called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before announcing the decision. In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the UK’s move was a gift to Hamas and harmed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
In addition to the UK, Malta will also recognize Palestine as a state during the UN General Assembly in September. Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Tuesday night, a few hours after a similar statement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“Our country’s position reflects our commitment to finding a solution in favor of lasting peace in the Middle East,” said Abela in a Facebook post.
The Mediterranean EU member island has a history of supporting the Palestinian struggle. Malta has supported the efforts for a two-state solution.
Abela first announced the plan to recognize Palestine as a state in May. He said it would be done at the United Nations conference in June, but the conference was postponed. Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognized Palestine as an independent state last May.
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