UK recognition of Palestine symbolism without action: The Guardian

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
22 Sep 2025 12:21

The UK's recognition of Palestine, alongside Canada, Australia, and France, marks a symbolic step amid the devastation in Gaza, with The Guardian arguing London’s conditional approach reduces statehood to a bargaining chip.

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Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations are engulfed by smoke following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Saturday, September 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

UK daily The Guardian, stated in an editorial published on Sunday, September 21, that London's recognition of Palestine fell short of allowing the state any leverage amid the ongoing genocide.

The editorial was published following UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement about the United Kingdom’s recognition of Palestine, joining Canada, Australia, and France ahead of the United Nations summit in New York.

Starmer declared, “The hope of a two-state solution is fading but we cannot let that light go out.”

The Guardian writes that the UK’s recognition was not absolute. Unlike others, London made it conditional on "Israel" agreeing to a ceasefire and other terms, concessions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was never going to make.

Death continues to rain down on Gaza City, where more than 65,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed. Starvation is spreading across the north of Gaza, while the prospects for even a ceasefire remain dim.

As The Guardian states, this effectively reduced Palestinian statehood to a bargaining chip, instead of acknowledging the inalienable right of Palestine to self-determination.

Global momentum for recognition and 'Israel’s' isolation

The British daily writes that the wave of recognition represents a symbolic shift, though Washington continues to block full Palestinian membership at the UN. The General Assembly, earlier this month, overwhelmingly supported a motion backing a two-state solution.

Governments, however, face accusations of acting out of political expediency, appeasing domestic anger at their complicity in the war while avoiding stronger measures, according to The Guardian. "Israel" appears increasingly isolated internationally, as public opinion in the US also shifts. A UN report has already concluded that "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza, though the UK has refused to recognize this.

Netanyahu has denounced recognition as a “reward” for terror while pursuing an endless war. Opinion polls show only 21% of Israelis believe coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible after October 7, 2023. On the ground, Palestinians face deepening annexation and forced displacement as Israeli settlers, backed by official support, undermine the "two-state solution" daily.

Despite Macron and others attempting to revive the vision of a grand settlement, the ongoing war on Gaza is steadily burying prospects of such a deal.

Beyond recognition: calls for accountability and action

While recognition represents a political milestone, The Guardian says it is insufficient without concrete steps. The European Union, "Israel’s" largest trading partner, has leverage but has yet to take meaningful measures. Proposals to suspend research funding remain stalled, while arms transfers and military cooperation continue.

The Guardian concludes: "Promoting a mirage of a Palestinian state without taking meaningful action to halt the annihilation would be cruel, cowardly and self-serving. But while ending the killing must be the priority, the destination cannot be simply stopping Palestinian deaths. It must be establishing the opportunities for life and nationhood that should have been ensured long ago"