UK will recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel ends ‘appalling situation’ in Gaza
Britain will recognise the state of Palestine within weeks unless Israel ends the “appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday, signalling what would be a historic shift in UK foreign policy following the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
After recalling senior ministers for an emergency cabinet meeting, the prime minister said “now was the right time to move this position” on the two-state solution.
In an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Sir Keir said the UK could recognise Palestine as early as the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution.
There was applause at the UN in New York as foreign secretary David Lammy conveyed what could be a historic turning point, more than a century after Britain’s role in the creation of modern-day Israel.
But Israel immediately dismissed the statement as “a reward for Hamas”.
The prime minister has been under pressure for months to act on the worsening crisis in Gaza, with a series of stark warnings about the famine and starvation in the territory. Cabinet ministers and backbenchers have added to the chorus of calls to act, with more than 250 MPs signing a letter last week demanding recognition of a Palestinian state.
Sir Keir said the UN must also be allowed to restart the supply of aid, and said the British public is “revolted” by scenes of starvation emerging from the territory.
The UK and its allies need to see “at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day” to deliver aid, the prime minister added, and are “mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in” by both air and by land.
“Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged but unequivocal: they must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza. And we’ll make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps, but no one should have a veto over our decision.”
Explaining the change in policy, Sir Keir said he was concerned that if a Palestinian state was not recognised soon, there may not be a state to recognise.
He said: “It’s driven today by two things, judging the context in the intolerable situation in Gaza, which is getting worse by the day, but also because of the concern that the very possibility of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years, and therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.”
The prime minister set out his plan for peace during an emergency virtual cabinet meeting, following discussions over the weekend with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Pressure had been mounting on Sir Keir to recognise Palestine as a state, but the decision to put the ball in the Israeli government’s court was a compromise to satisfy two competing factions in his cabinet.
Senior cabinet members who support plans to recognise a Palestinian state include deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, energy secretary Ed Miliband and foreign secretary David Lammy.
