DayofPal—UK Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer has rejected mounting calls from MPs to immediately recognize a Palestinian state, insisting that further “practical measures” are needed before such a step can be taken.
During a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, following Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa’s official visit to London, Falconer reiterated the UK government’s commitment to a two-state solution but stopped short of endorsing immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The debate followed the signing of a UK-Palestinian memorandum of understanding, which reaffirmed the UK’s support for the “inalienable right of the Palestinian people” to an independent state. The agreement included a £101 million aid package aimed at humanitarian relief, economic development, and governance reform in Palestinian territories.
Despite this, MPs from across the political spectrum urged the government to take the next step. Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs committee, called for recognition in tandem with France, which has signalled it may take that step at a UN conference in June.
“Now is the time to take the next serious step, which is to finally recognize the state of Palestine,” Thornberry said.
Falconer responded that while the government remains committed to recognizing Palestine as part of a two-state solution, the timing must be strategic.
“We do wish to recognize a Palestinian state, and we wish to do so as a contribution to a two-state solution,” he said. “We will make the judgment about when the best moment is to try to make the fullest possible contribution.”
SNP MP Chris Law, who recently attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s summit of 1,200 MPs from 188 countries, noted the UK was out of step with global sentiment.
He shared that the Palestinian prime minister had described recognition as a potential “paradigm change” and asked what obstacles remained. Falconer pointed to unresolved issues around governance and security, referred to as “final-status determinations”, as key barriers.
“There are vexed issues at the centre of what a Palestinian state would look like,” he said.
Concerns were also raised about the viability of a future Palestinian state given the ongoing war in Gaza and expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Conservative MP Desmond Swayne questioned whether there would be “sufficient economically viable land” for a Palestinian state to function.
While 147 of the 193 UN member states have recognized Palestinian statehood, key nations such as the UK, Germany, Canada, and Italy have yet to follow suit.
“Some 147 states have recognized a Palestinian state, yet no Palestinian state is fully functioning,” Falconer noted, citing challenges such as Hamas’ control in Gaza and economic instability in both Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount outside parliament. On Tuesday, more than 300 Muslim organizations and individuals delivered a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging immediate recognition of Palestine and a halt to military support for Israel.
Wajid Akhter, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), said the letter reflects a demand for a foreign policy guided by “justice, humanity and international law.”
“We rightly mobilized against Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine,” Akhter said, “yet the illegal occupation of Palestine and the mass killing of civilians are met with silence.”
He called on the UK to demonstrate moral leadership and take the lead in recognizing Palestinian statehood.
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