KUALA LUMPUR - The United Kingdom’s (UK) official recognition of the State of Palestine is historic and aligns with London’s commitment to regional peace said UK High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma.
"UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the UK recognises the State of Palestine. This is a historic decision that reflects our continued commitment to peace and stability in the region, as well as support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
"We have always maintained that we would recognise the State of Palestine at a time when it would have the greatest impact on the peace process. With the situation in Gaza and the West Bank deteriorating, hopes for reconciliation and a two-state solution are fading. Therefore, the time is now,” he said.
He made the remarks in a two-minute 50-seconds video uploaded to the official Instagram account of the British High Commission, @ukinmalaysia. The video was delivered entirely in Bahasa Melayu.
Ajay said the UK recognises Palestine with provisional borders covering the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, which will be finalised in future negotiations, including agreements on land swaps.
"We are working with regional countries within the Framework for Reconciliation - a series of steps that can move from a ceasefire towards a two-state solution,” he said.
According to him, the UK has also announced an additional £15 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, including medical care for those in need.
"Much more remains to be done. We will continue working with our partners to support efforts towards peace...,” he said.
On Sunday, the official recognition of Palestinian statehood by the UK, Canada, and Australia ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session was welcomed by Palestine.
Palestine said the move would safeguard the two-state solution and help bring about peace, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed its appreciation to the three countries for their "brave decision” to officially recognise the State of Palestine, describing it as consistent with international law and legitimate UN resolutions. - BERNAMA