Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they recognise the Palestinian Authority as the government of Palestine and Mahmoud Abbas as its leader; and what assessment they have made of the constitutional legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas' Presidency.

The UK recognised the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025. We work closely with the Palestinian Authority and engage regularly with President Abbas. We recognise the Palestinian Authority as the governing authority in Palestine and maintain a close relationship with it. Strengthening Palestinian governance is essential to continue building the institutional foundations of a viable two-state solution.

We have expressed regret at the postponement of Palestinian Authority elections - Joint statement on the postponement of Palestinian elections: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-postponement-of-palestinian-elections