PM Keir Starmer said the Palestinian people have ‘endured terrible suffering’ with a ‘catastrophic failure of aid’ in a statement from Downing Street on Tuesday
Starmer says UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps’ over Gaza
Britain is prepared to recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel agrees a ceasefire in Gaza, Keir Starmer has said.
In a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the Palestinian people have “endured terrible suffering” with “catastrophic failure of aid”. He added: “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”
Earlier on Tuesday, UN-backed experts said “the worst-case scenario of famine” was currently playing out in Gaza and warned of “widespread death” without urgent action.
It came as the Prime Minister held an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss a peace plan for the region. He had summoned ministers back from the summer recess to discuss the proposals, which have been shared with France, Germany and US President Donald Trump.
Downing Street said the PM “opened by saying that he had called the meeting to address the situation in Gaza which was getting more desperate by the day”.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Starmer said: “I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.
“And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear that there will be no annexations in the West Bank.”
He added: “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. So this is the way forward.
“We will keep working with all our international partners to end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East, because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.”
The Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza.
Over 250 MPs from across the Commons have signed a letter last week calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state immediately.
Last week the French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would do so at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
But Mr Trump shot back, telling reporters at the White House last week: “What he says doesn’t matter…. he’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight.”