In a dramatic statement, days after France's announcement of recognition of a Palestinian state, UK PM Keir Starmer's office issues ultimatum that the kingdom would act similarly in September unless the Israeli government 'takes real steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza'; Announcement could come ahead of the UN General Assembly
Reuters|Yesterday |
Britain will recognize 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.
Britain will recognize 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 recognize 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.
UK PM Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against backdrop of Gaza
(Photos: Leo Correa, Brendan Smialoski/AFP, Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
"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.
Successive British governments have said they will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions.
With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party have asking him to recognize a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel.
Meanwhile, the “UN Conference for Advancing a Two-State Solution” opened Monday in New York, initiated by France and Saudi Arabia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated at the start of the two-day summit—held without Israeli or American participation—that the two-state solution is “further away than ever.” Amid mounting international criticism of Israel, Guterres declared that “the destruction of Gaza has unfolded before the eyes of the world” and that alongside “Israel’s threat to annex the West Bank,” these are the main obstacles to a resolution.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
(Photo: Thomas Krych / POOL / AFP)
The conference, attended by dozens of countries, is co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia. It was originally scheduled for late June but was postponed due to the war with Iran and shortened from its planned four-day duration.
Last weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize a Palestinian state in September, during the UN General Assembly. His declaration drew widespread condemnation from Israeli political leaders, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it “a reward for terrorism.” The Palestinian Authority and Hamas, by contrast, welcomed the initiative and thanked Macron for his support.
UK may recognize Palestinian State at UN in September: Starmer
Web Desk
July 29, 2025
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that Britain is ready to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel takes a series of steps to improve the lives of Palestinians.
Britain, if it does so, would become the second Western power on the UN Security Council to do so, after France, reflecting deep isolation over Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe has occurred and the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 60,000.
Starmer said Britain would take the step unless Israel takes concrete steps to allow more aid into Gaza, made clear there would be no annexation of the West Bank and was committed to a long-term peace process that provides a “two-state solution” – a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace.
Starmer told reporters that the Palestinian people have suffered terrible suffering. “Now, in Gaza, because of the catastrophic failure of aid, we see images of starving children, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. The suffering must end.”
Starmer said his government would assess in September “the extent to which the parties have delivered on these measures”, but that no one would veto the decision.
He made the decision on Tuesday after recalling his cabinet from the summer recess to work with other European leaders on a new proposed peace plan and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million people.
Successive British governments have said they would formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions.
With international aid agencies warning that people in Gaza are facing food shortages, a growing number of lawmakers from Starmer’s Labour Party are stepping up pressure on Israel to recognise a Palestinian state.
The move comes as President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France would recognise Palestine as a state in areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israel and the staunch supporter of the United States condemned the French move, calling it a reward for the Palestinian Hamas militants who attacked Gaza and whose attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 sparked the current war.
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At the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, when Starmer was opposition leader, he fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself. But his stance has become increasingly hardline towards Israel over the years, especially since he was elected prime minister just a year ago.
His government rejected the previous government’s challenge to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has suspended some arms sales to Israel.
Last month, Britain imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Governor and Bizet Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians.
Web Desk
July 29, 2025
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that Britain is ready to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel takes a series of steps to improve the lives of Palestinians.
Britain, if it does so, would become the second Western power on the UN Security Council to do so, after France, reflecting deep isolation over Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe has occurred and the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 60,000.
Starmer said Britain would take the step unless Israel takes concrete steps to allow more aid into Gaza, made clear there would be no annexation of the West Bank and was committed to a long-term peace process that provides a “two-state solution” – a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace.
Starmer told reporters that the Palestinian people have suffered terrible suffering. “Now, in Gaza, because of the catastrophic failure of aid, we see images of starving children, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. The suffering must end.”
Starmer said his government would assess in September “the extent to which the parties have delivered on these measures”, but that no one would veto the decision.
He made the decision on Tuesday after recalling his cabinet from the summer recess to work with other European leaders on a new proposed peace plan and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million people.
Successive British governments have said they would formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions.
With international aid agencies warning that people in Gaza are facing food shortages, a growing number of lawmakers from Starmer’s Labour Party are stepping up pressure on Israel to recognise a Palestinian state.
The move comes as President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France would recognise Palestine as a state in areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israel and the staunch supporter of the United States condemned the French move, calling it a reward for the Palestinian Hamas militants who attacked Gaza and whose attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 sparked the current war.
Ad powered by advergic.com
At the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, when Starmer was opposition leader, he fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself. But his stance has become increasingly hardline towards Israel over the years, especially since he was elected prime minister just a year ago.
His government rejected the previous government’s challenge to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has suspended some arms sales to Israel.
Last month, Britain imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Governor and Bizet Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians.
UK Rejects Criticism That Move to Recognize Palestinian State Rewards Hamas
Demonstrators gather outside the UN Headquarters during a "Stop Starving Gaza" protest in New York City, US, July 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Asharq Al Awsa
30 July 2025
AD ـ 05 Safar 1447 AH
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding the Hamas group by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace.
The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack.
US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas "should be rewarded" with recognition of Palestinian independence.
Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander - designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday - said it was not the right way to characterize Britain's plan.
“This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,” she told LBC radio.
“We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.”
France announced last week it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September.
Successive British governments have said they would recognize a Palestinian state when it was most effective to do so.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Starmer said that moment had now come, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and saying the prospect of a two-state solution - a Palestinian state coexisting in peace alongside Israel - was under threat.
Starmer said Britain would make the move at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivered a two-state solution.
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding the Hamas group by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace.
The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack.
US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas "should be rewarded" with recognition of Palestinian independence.
Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander - designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday - said it was not the right way to characterize Britain's plan.
“This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,” she told LBC radio.
“We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.”
France announced last week it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September.
Successive British governments have said they would recognize a Palestinian state when it was most effective to do so.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Starmer said that moment had now come, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and saying the prospect of a two-state solution - a Palestinian state coexisting in peace alongside Israel - was under threat.
Starmer said Britain would make the move at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivered a two-state solution.
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