Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Recognition of the State of Palestine

Tuesday 24 June 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is committed to recognising a Palestinian state but aims to choose the timing that maximizes long-term peace prospects.
  • The conference in New York on the two-state solution, originally scheduled to discuss potential recognition, was postponed due to regional events.
  • The UK minister has been in conversation regarding the rescheduling of the conference.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Milne Lib Dem Horsham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from concerns about the current situation in Gaza and potential future developments in the West Bank, highlighting the importance of timely action to prevent similar outcomes.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential merits of recognising the state of Palestine? What is happening in Gaza is hard enough to watch, but if we are to prevent the west bank from going the same way in a few years’ time, we must act today. Does the Minister agree that recognising the principle of a Palestinian state, without making any judgment for the moment on its borders, is the strongest and most effective way to reaffirm the UK’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, while there is still territory left to form it with?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state at a time that has the most impact and is most conducive to long-term prospects for peace. UK bilateral recognition is the single most important action we can take towards Palestinian statehood, which is why it is important to get the timing right, so that it creates genuine momentum and is not simply a symbolic gesture.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister avoided providing a direct answer by stating their commitment without specifying when or under what conditions recognition would occur.

How: Under Review, Working On

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Q2 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Foreign Affairs
Context

A conference was scheduled to discuss the potential for recognition of a Palestinian state but had to be postponed due to recent events in Iran.

Question

Can my hon. Friend update me on the conference that was due to be held at the weekend but was postponed following the bombing of Iran by Israel, at which the potential for recognition was to be discussed?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

I think my hon. Friend refers to the two-state solution conference that was due to take place in New York last week. It has been suspended for understandable reasons, given events in the region, by its French and Saudi co-hosts. We expect that it will be rearranged, and I have been in conversation with my Saudi colleagues about when that might be.

Answered
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