Nearly two-thirds of Britons believe recognising Palestinian statehood will make no difference to the Gaza conflict or could even make the crisis worse.
A new poll showed 62 per cent of respondents thought recognition of Palestine would either make no real difference or would make an end to the conflict less likely.
The UK formally recognised Palestine on Sunday, alongside Canada, Australia and Portugal, despite protests from Israel that the move would reward Hamas terrorists.
The YouGov survey found that half of Britons thought it was a largely symbolic step, with 50 per cent saying the action would make no real difference.
But some 12 per cent thought it would make an end to the current Gaza conflict – which has raged since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 – less likely.
This compared to 15 per cent who thought it would make an end to the crisis more likely, while 23 per cent said they didn’t know what impact it would have.
Labour voters were most likely to think formally recognising Palestine would make an end to the Gaza conflict more likely.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of Labour supporters thought the move would improve the chances of peace, compared to just 7 per cent who thought it would make an end to the crisis less likely.
Reform UK supporters were most sceptical of the move, with 26 per cent saying it would make an end to the Gaza crisis less likely.
This compared to just 4 per cent who thought it would make an end to the violence more likely, while 58 per cent of those who back Nigel Farage’s party thought it would make no real difference.
As well as condemnation from Israel, the US has also been opposed to Britain and other countries formally recognising Palestinian statehood.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, on Tuesday claimed countries such as Britain and France have recognised Palestine because they have been ‘flooded with foreigners’ who are ‘insisting their governments do these sorts of things’.
He told Fox News: ‘These countries are doing it frankly because of domestic political pressure in their own countries.
‘Because of migration policies, these countries have been flooded with foreigners who have become politically active and are insisting their governments do these sorts of things.
‘That’s what they’re responding to. It’s irrelevant, it’s gonna get a little bit of attention, but there is no Palestinian state.’
It came after Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, on Monday told the UN General Assembly that Britain’s action reflected the ‘grave reality’ that a two-state solution in the Middle East is in ‘profound peril’.
She said the UK’s decision to recognise Palestine is ‘born of urgency and principle’ and the pathway being set out is the ‘opposite of Hamas’s hateful vision’.
‘This step, alongside friends and partners, reflects a longstanding truth that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, and that two states is the only path to security and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,’ Ms Cooper added.
‘But it also reflects a grave reality: the two-state solution that for decades has commanded global support is in profound peril from continued bloodshed, man-made famine, terrorism and hostage taking, settlement expansion and settler violence.
The Foreign Secretary stressed there can be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Palestine and that recognition would come alongside ‘unwavering support’ for Israel’s security.
‘But recognition must be a spur, not a substitute for urgent action, a ceasefire now, the release of all hostages, the restoration of aid and a lasting framework for peace,’ she said.
On Sunday, Ms Cooper urged Israel not to retaliate to the recognition by expanding settlements in the West Bank.
She insisted the decision to recognise Palestine was aimed at increasing security by keeping the prospect of a two-state solution alive.
Now that it has officially recognised Palestine, the UK plans to use the UN General Assembly to push for international backing of a framework for peace in the Middle East.
