The Guardian view on UK recognition of a Palestinian state: this must be a call to action, not conscience-salving | Editorial

"Death rains down on Gaza City. Starvation stalks the north of Gaza. Israel has now killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians. The prospects of even a ceasefire look dim, never mind a long-term settlement. But formally announcing the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer remarked: The hope of a two-state solution is fading but we cannot let that light go out."

"Not only was the UK dragged to this point; unlike others, it made the announcement conditional. The prime minister stated that it would happen unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire and other terms, which Benjamin Netanyahu's government was never going to meet. In doing so, he wrongly presented statehood as a bargaining chip instead of clearly declaring the inalienable right of Palestinians to self-determination."

"The mass diplomatic shift is symbolic; the US will continue to block full Palestinian membership of the UN. At best, this is part of a concerted effort to end the war, revive the longer-term prospects for statehood and prevent ethnic cleansing. The UN general assembly overwhelmingly backed a motion calling for a two-state solution earlier this month. The more cynical reckoning is that governments are scrambling to appease domestic anger at their complicity, and avoiding more substantive steps."

Massive civilian casualties and starvation afflict Gaza, with more than 65,000 Palestinians killed and a ceasefire appearing unlikely. The UK, Canada, Australia and France moved to recognize a Palestinian state, but the UK's recognition was conditional on a ceasefire and other demands that Israel was unlikely to accept. Presenting statehood as conditional framed it as a bargaining chip rather than an affirmation of Palestinian self-determination. The diplomatic shift is largely symbolic because the US will block full UN membership, though it may still pressure to end the war and prevent ethnic cleansing. Public opinion is turning against Israel and a UN report found evidence of genocide.

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