Statement on UK Government’s Deceptive Recognition of a Palestinian State

The UK government’s talk of recognising a Palestinian state is nothing but a cruel deception from a historic enemy of the Palestinian people. Far from an act of justice, this gesture is a calculated response to the rising opposition in Britain and worldwide to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Only two weeks after officially denying that Israel is committing genocide, Prime Minister Keir Starmer now signals he may vote at the UN to recognise a “State of Palestine.” This is the same leader who in 2023 openly endorsed Israel’s right to deny water to Gaza’s population — a statement of direct support for genocide.

While Britain claims this move will “contribute to peace,” the UK military continues to train Israeli forces, RAF aircraft still fly over Gaza to provide intelligence, and British weapons continue to fuel Israel’s slaughter. At no point does this recognition acknowledge genocide, or even Israel's mass killing of civilians, or its decades-long crimes against the Palestinian people.

Instead, the UK insists on the complete disarmament of Palestinian resistance, while leaving Israel — and even its armed settler militias — untouched. It denies the Palestinian right of return, and places the so-called “state” under the control of the collaborationist Palestinian Authority, which has long cooperated with Israel against its own people.

This is not recognition of Palestinian self-determination. It is another fake peace process designed to protect Israel, legitimise its apartheid structures based on Jewish supremacy over others and deflect global outrage. True recognition means accountability for genocide, the right of return for all Palestinian refugees, and full equality for Palestinians in their homeland — not the creation of a disarmed entity under the control of a genocidal power.

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
22 Sep 2025