What does UK recognition actually mean for Palestine?

Sir Keir Starmer officially recognised a Palestinian state yesterday as Israel has failed to meet conditions that would have postponed this historic step, including a ceasefire in Gaza.

- TARA COBHAM BRYONY GOOCH

The prime minister previously said that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government must end its starvation tactics and allow the supply of aid into the embattled enclave ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month, or else the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood.

But Sir Keir recognised a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly, as there has been no ceasefire and a famine has been declared in Gaza City, where Israel has expanded its military action.

The prime minister has come under mounting pressure from his own party to recognise a Palestinian state, which has only grown since Mr Macron announced France’s intention to do so back in July.

Here, The Independent asks experts about what the UK recognising Palestinian statehood would mean in practice.

What would UK recognition of Palestine as a state mean?

Dr Julie Norman, an associate professor at UCL specialising in Middle Eastern politics, said the UK recognising Palestine as a state would mean voting for this at the United Nations - but it would be unlikely the UN would be able to recognise Palestinian statehood due to the probability of the United States blocking the move.

However, she said countries such as the UK and France voting for recognition at the UN would be a “significant” move.

And she said the UK officially recognising Palestinian statehood would still be of “value”, even if the reality is that not much would change on the ground, with Israel still “fully rejecting” the prospect of recognition.

Speaking of British recognition, Dr Norman said: “It would be a strong moral commitment and stance to Palestine at a moment when it’s never been more fraught in Gaza and the West Bank.