British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that the UK will legally recognise the State of Palestine in September if Israel doesn’t make “substantive steps” to end the escalating Gaza crisis. His comment came after an emergency cabinet meeting held while Parliament was in recess amid the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave.
Downing Street reports that Starmer told ministers that recognition of the Palestinian state will go ahead if the Israeli government fails to meet a range of conditions set by London. They include acceptance of an immediate ceasefire, a better situation for Gaza, acceptance of any annexation plans in the West Bank, and reaffirming a sustained peace process to get to a two-state solution.
“I have long argued that we would accept a Palestinian state as a contribution to an appropriate peace process at the point of peak leverage for the two-state solution,” Starmer told a Downing Street press conference. “With that solution now at risk, this is the time to act.”
UK and France To Lead G7 on Palestinian Statehood
The decision comes on the heels of a similar declaration from French President Emmanuel Macron last week, when he committed to having France officially recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. Both nations, if they go ahead, would be the first G7 countries to back Palestinian statehood.
Following Macron’s position, Britain was prepared to follow suit unless Israel took tangible steps towards peace, said Starmer. The policy change has already been condemned by Israel and the United States, where representatives contend that Palestine recognition now would be a reward for militant organisations such as Hamas.
Mixed Signals from Trump on UK’s Scheme
Reports earlier indicated that Starmer had updated the former US President Donald Trump on the recognition plan at their Scotland meeting on Monday. Trump, according to the reports, had reportedly sanctioned the move, with Trump stating, “I don’t mind him taking a position.” Trump, however, refuted the statement on Tuesday.
We never did have that discussion,” Trump said to reporters on Air Force One. He threatened that accepting Palestinian statehood would be viewed as rewarding Hamas. “You’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think that they should be rewarded,” he stated.
Demands on Hamas and UK’s Humanitarian Aid Efforts
Starmer also issued a strong message to Hamas, calling for the group to release all Israeli hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept that it will not participate in Gaza’s future governance. “We will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps. No one should have a veto over our decision,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UK has begun air-dropping humanitarian supplies into Gaza. The first British aid shipments carrying around £500,000 worth of vital provisions were delivered on Tuesday, according to the Prime Minister’s office.
“The Palestinian people have suffered horrifically,” Starmer wrote in a TV address. “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand. The suffering must end.”
Growing Political Pressure for Recognition
Starmer is under increasing pressure at home and abroad to take action on the matter. Over 220 British MPs across nine parties signed a letter a week ago calling on the government to officially recognise Palestine. It was also included in the election-winning Labour manifesto, as part of a promise to back a two-state solution.
