LONDON /ISTANBUL

Joining more than 150 countries, the UK officially recognizes the state of Palestine, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday ahead of the UN General Assembly.

"In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of the peace and the two-state solution," Keir Starmer said in a video statement.

He said that means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state, adding: "At the moment, we have neither."

Starmer went on to say that the moment for recognizing Palestinian statehood "has now arrived."

"So, today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine," he added.

Highlighting that the move is "a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future," Starmer said that he knows "the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes."

"Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state," he said.

Turning to the crippling humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Starmer said this death and destruction "horrifies all of us."

"The starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable," he underlined, adding that the situation is now "nowhere near enough aid is getting through."

Starmer also renewed his call on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions at the border.

"Stop these cruel tactics and let the aid surge in," he said.

- Starmer’s letter to Abbas

In a formal letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Starmer placed on record the UK’s recognition of Palestine “as a sovereign and independent state” effective Sept. 21.

“This historic decision affirms the United Kingdom’s support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including to statehood. A two-state solution remains the only pathway to a just and lasting peace for the region,” the letter read.

Starmer recalled Britain’s “historical role” in the Middle East, citing the 1917 Balfour Declaration, and reaffirmed the UK’s enduring commitment to a two-state solution in which “Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace and security.”

He said the UK looked forward to “a new era of friendship and cooperation” with the Palestinian people, and instructed the foreign secretary to begin the process of establishing full diplomatic relations.

“I was honoured to host you at Downing Street earlier this month. I look forward to a close and constructive relationship between our two States,” Starmer wrote, signing off with “best wishes.”

- Palestinian envoy welcomes move, calls for end to genocide

Husam Zomlot, Palestinian envoy to the UK, welcomed the recognition and labeled the move "historic."

"Today is not just about Palestine but about Britain's fulfilment of a solemn responsibility," the ambassador said in a written statement.

"The recognition must now be followed by action," he said, stressing that the move "must translate into immediate, concrete, and consequential measures to acknowledge and halt the genocide."

In July, the prime minister said the UK would recognize the state of Palestine this September unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps."

It came after mounting pressure on the British government to announce the formal recognition.

Australia and Canada also announced formal recognition of Palestine on Sunday.

Previously, France, Luxembourg, and Malta announced similar plans to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly.

Ahead of the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the BBC that “now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli government labelled the UK move "absurd," ahead of Britain's announcement.