Israel has vowed to annex the West Bank in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to officially recognise a Palestinian state.

In July, Sir Keir said that the Government would move to recognise Palestine – unless Israel allowed UN into the Gaza strip and agreed to a ceasefire.

Then on Sunday, the PM finally confirmed: “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.

“In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.

“That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment, we have neither.”

But in response, Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Palestinian statehood “will not happen” and said the UK’s decision “endangers our existence and constitutes an absurd reward for terrorism”.

The Israeli leader added that “the international community will hear from us on this matter in the coming days”.

An Israeli official separately told Sky News a “full or partial annexation of the West Bank” was now on the table “in response” to Sir Keir’s move.

Britain will recognise a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with the Foreign Office’s website now listing Gaza and the West Bank as “Palestine” as opposed to the “Occupied Palestinian Territories”.

The governments of Australia, Canada and Portugal joined Britain in recognising the state of Palestine ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly in New York.

Reacting to Sir Keir’s announcement, ex-Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant echoed Mr Netanyahu, saying: “There will never be a Palestinian state.”

Mr Gallant added: “Starmer, the British Mandate ended 77 years ago. You should focus on the Islamist surge in the UK, not on Israel.”

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting – who won his seat last summer by just 500 votes against a pro-Gaza independent candidate – responded to the former Israeli defence chief, blasting: “That first sentence vindicates the judgement of our Prime Minister.

“Recognition isn’t a victory for Hamas. It’s a defeat for those who do not see the lives of Israelis and Palestinians as being of equal worth.”

But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said that the Government is “wrong to recognise a Palestinian state”, adding that “this is a reward for the Hamas terrorists and will do nothing to bring about peace.”

The Israeli Prime Minister later thanked Mr Farage for his condemnation.

Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also confirmed: “Hamas can have no role in Palestine’s future – they are a barbaric terrorist organisation who oppose the very idea of two states.

“They must release the hostages and relinquish any hold on Gaza. But Hamas are not the Palestinian people.”

The West Bank lies east to the city of Jerusalem and is home to around 4.2 million people. It is administered by Israel, which refers to it as Judea and Samaria.

The Palestinian Authority controls approximately 39 per cent of the territory, with the remaining 61 per cent run by Israel.