UK To Recognise Palestinian State Unless Israel Meets Conditions –PM Starmer
The British government has announced its intention to officially recognise Palestine as an independent state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September—unless Israel takes specific actions to meet conditions laid out by the UK.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer following an emergency cabinet meeting focused on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The decision comes just a day after Starmer held high-level talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where the Middle East conflict featured prominently in their discussions.
Starmer gave the conditions as follows: Israel must take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.
“Israel agrees to a ceasefire. Israel commits to a long-term sustainable peace – reviving the prospect of a two-state solution
“Israel must allow the UN to restart the supply of aid and there must be no annexations in the West Bank.”
According to Sky News, the Israeli Knesset voted just last week in favour of annexing the West Bank.
Starmer’s announcement comes less than a week after French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would recognise a Palestinian state in September, making it the first G7 nation to do so.
Ireland, Spain, and Norway all formally recognised a Palestinian state last year.
The UK has traditionally maintained that recognition of Palestinian statehood should come only through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
More than 200 MPs — the majority from the Labour Party — including the chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Emily Thornberry, recently urged Sir Keir to move ahead with recognition.
However, the prime minister has consistently resisted such calls, stating that he “very strongly” believes a two-state solution is the only viable long-term resolution to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Some Labour ministers have also argued that unilateral recognition of Palestine could compromise Britain’s role as a neutral mediator in the conflict.
Ministers have previously stated their commitment to recognising a Palestinian state but said they would only proceed “at a time that is most conducive to the peace process”.
Ahead of last summer’s election, Sir Keir Starmer warned that recognising Palestine as a state could strain the UK’s relationship with the United States, despite the policy being included in Labour’s manifesto.
Successive US administrations — under Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden — have upheld a veto at the UN Security Council on recognising Palestinian statehood.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sir Keir confirmed that UK humanitarian aid had been delivered into Gaza both by air and land.
However, he stressed that at least 500 aid trucks must enter Gaza daily to tackle the growing hunger crisis, noting that 27% of young children and pregnant women are now malnourished.
The PM said: “Ultimately, the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement.
“So, we are supporting the US, Egyptian and Qatari efforts to secure a vital ceasefire.
“That ceasefire must be sustainable and it must lead to a wider peace plan, which we are developing with our international partners.
“This plan will deliver security and proper governance in Gaza and pave the way for negotiations on a two-state solution.
“Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. But right now – that goal is under pressure like never before.
“I’ve always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the Two State Solution.
“With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.
“So today – as part of this process towards peace 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.”
