UK to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets conditions, PM says
Keir Starmer said conditions include a ceasefire and that Israel commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution
Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet on Tuesday according to a government statement.
“He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution,” the statement said.
“He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain: that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm.”
Starmer took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
With warnings that people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing number of lawmakers in Starmer’s Labour Party have asked him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel.
Starmer held a phone call with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu before Tuesday’s announcement, a source familiar with the matter said.