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UK to recognise state of Palestine in September unless Israel holds to a ceasefire UK to recognise state of Palestine in September unless Israel holds to a ceasefire
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Cabinet agrees to support Middle East roadmap at emergency meetingCabinet agrees to support Middle East roadmap at emergency meeting
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The UK will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September as a result of the “increasingly intolerable” situation on the ground in Gaza, unless Israel abides by a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution for the Middle East.The UK will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September as a result of the “increasingly intolerable” situation on the ground in Gaza, unless Israel abides by a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution for the Middle East.
Keir Starmer’s cabinet has agreed to support a roadmap for peace in the region after coming under intense domestic pressure over the mounting humanitarian crisis in the territory, and internal calls to follow France in acknowledging Palestinian statehood.Keir Starmer’s cabinet has agreed to support a roadmap for peace in the region after coming under intense domestic pressure over the mounting humanitarian crisis in the territory, and internal calls to follow France in acknowledging Palestinian statehood.
The prime minister recalled his cabinet from their summer break to approve the plan after he held talks with Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday. The US president said he did “not mind” the UK taking a position on the issue, even if he would not.The prime minister recalled his cabinet from their summer break to approve the plan after he held talks with Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday. The US president said he did “not mind” the UK taking a position on the issue, even if he would not.
Starmer told ministers that because of the increasingly “intolerable situation” in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards the UK’s ambition of a two-state solution, now was the right time to move to this position. Starmer told his ministers that, because of the catastrophic situation on the ground in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of reaching a two-state solution, now was the right time to move to this position.
He said the UK would recognise the state of Palestine in September, before the UN general assembly, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the 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. “Ultimately, the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement,” he told reporters after the meeting. “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.”
The prime minister reiterated that there was no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, and said the militant group must release all the hostages, disarm, sign up to a ceasefire and accept it would play no role in the government of Gaza. He added: “I have always said that 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.”
The UK roadmap follows an agreement to work on a plan for “lasting peace” in the region with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at the weekend. The move comes as UN-backed hunger experts warned on Tuesday that a “worst-case scenario of famine” was unfolding in the strip and called for “immediate action”, while health officials announced the death toll from Israeli attacks had passed 60,000.
Downing Street had insisted that formal recognition of Palestinian statehood was a matter of “when, not if”, with the Labour government facing calls to take further action as UK public opinion hardened. In a significant shift in the UK’s approach, Starmer said that recognition would take place ahead of the UN general assembly in New York this September, unless Israel agreed to a series of conditions set out in the UK-led eight-point peace plan.
These were for Israel to take “substantive steps” to end the situation in Gaza, reach a ceasefire, commit to no annexation in the West Bank, as well as a long-term peace process. Starmer spoke to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, before the announcement.
He also underlined their existing demands of Hamas, as he reiterated there was no equivalence between the militant group and Israel. It must release all hostages immediately, disarm, sign up to a ceasefire and accept it would play no role in the government of Gaza.
“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,” the prime minister added. He planned to spend the evening on calls to international allies the UK is working with.
The roadmap follows an agreement to work towards “lasting peace” in the region with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at the weekend.
Downing Street had insisted that formal recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when, not if”, with the Labour government facing calls to take further action as UK public opinion hardened over horrific scenes on the ground.
Starmer told reporters that the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which was “getting worse by the day”, was behind the timing of the UK’s decision, along with concern that the possibility of a two-state solution was receding.
“We’ve been saying for some considerable time now we need to get more aid in at volume and at speed, and the situation now is absolutely catastrophic, which is why I’ve taken this decision today in relation to the two state solution and the recognition of Palestine.”
It was pressing that aid was allowed into Gaza “at volume and in speed” to alleviate starvation, he said, with the UK working with Jordan to drop aid into the territory by air.
The Guardian revealed last week that Starmer was under pressure from cabinet ministers for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine as a state, as global outcry grew over Israel’s killing of starving civilians in Gaza.The Guardian revealed last week that Starmer was under pressure from cabinet ministers for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine as a state, as global outcry grew over Israel’s killing of starving civilians in Gaza.
Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, are understood to be among ministers who believe the government should take the lead on the issue.Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, are understood to be among ministers who believe the government should take the lead on the issue.