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The UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The prime minister said Israel must also meet other conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing the United Nations to restart the supply of aid, or the UK would take the step at September’s UN General Assembly.
The government has previously said recognition should come as part of a peace process and at a point when it can have maximum impact.
However, the PM has been under growing pressure – including from his own MPs – to act more quickly.
Last week France also announced it would officially recognise a Palestinian state in September – the first of the G7 group of the world’s richest countries to do so.
Giving a news conference after holding an emergency cabinet meeting, Sir Keir said he was announcing the plan now because of the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and concern that “the very possibility of a two-state solution is reducing”.
He told reporters that the UK’s goal of “a safe secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state” was “under pressure like never before”.
The PM added that his “primary aim” was to improve the situation on the ground in Gaza, including ensuring that aid gets in.
Sir Keir said the UK would recognise a Palestinian state unless the Israeli government takes steps including:
Meanwhile, he said Hamas must immediately release all hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.
The announcement comes after a call between Sir Keir and the leaders of France and Germany over the weekend, when Downing Street said plans for a sustainable route to a two-state solution were discussed.
However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state in the near future, suggesting this may be “one of the last steps on a path to realising a two-state solution”.
Most countries – about 139 in all – formally recognise a Palestinian state.
However, many European nations, and crucially the United States, say they will only do so as part of moves towards a long-term resolution to the conflict.
Spain, Ireland and Norway formally took the step last year, hoping to exert diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Representatives of Palestine currently have limited rights to participate in UN activity, and the territory is also recognised by various international organisations, including the Arab League.
Sceptics argue recognition is largely be a symbolic gesture unless questions over the leadership and extent of a Palestinian state are addressed first.
Meanwhile, Israel has argued that recognising Palestine “rewards terror”, after Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023.
The UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The prime minister said Israel must also meet other conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing the United Nations to restart the supply of aid, or the UK would take the step at September’s UN General Assembly.
The government has previously said recognition should come as part of a peace process and at a point when it can have maximum impact.
However, the PM has been under growing pressure – including from his own MPs – to act more quickly.
Last week France also announced it would officially recognise a Palestinian state in September – the first of the G7 group of the world’s richest countries to do so.
Giving a news conference after holding an emergency cabinet meeting, Sir Keir said he was announcing the plan now because of the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and concern that “the very possibility of a two-state solution is reducing”.
He told reporters that the UK’s goal of “a safe secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state” was “under pressure like never before”.
The PM added that his “primary aim” was to improve the situation on the ground in Gaza, including ensuring that aid gets in.
Sir Keir said the UK would recognise a Palestinian state unless the Israeli government takes steps including:
Meanwhile, he said Hamas must immediately release all hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.
The announcement comes after a call between Sir Keir and the leaders of France and Germany over the weekend, when Downing Street said plans for a sustainable route to a two-state solution were discussed.
However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state in the near future, suggesting this may be “one of the last steps on a path to realising a two-state solution”.
Most countries – about 139 in all – formally recognise a Palestinian state.
However, many European nations, and crucially the United States, say they will only do so as part of moves towards a long-term resolution to the conflict.
Spain, Ireland and Norway formally took the step last year, hoping to exert diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Representatives of Palestine currently have limited rights to participate in UN activity, and the territory is also recognised by various international organisations, including the Arab League.
Sceptics argue recognition is largely be a symbolic gesture unless questions over the leadership and extent of a Palestinian state are addressed first.
Meanwhile, Israel has argued that recognising Palestine “rewards terror”, after Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023.
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