PM: Move to peace or UK will recognise Palestinian state in September

The UK will recognise the state of Palestine “in September” unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the “appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Prime Minister recalled his senior team of ministers from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza, where the population is facing a mounting famine, according to warnings from the United Nations.

Unlike the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer set a series of conditions to be achieved and agreed to avoid recognition in September, including the need for the release of all the hostages still held by Hamas and be based on a guarantee the terror group no longer rules Gaza.

A source told Jewish News: “Keir Starmer is convinced the UK can act as an honest broker in any future peace process. He is committed to recognition of a Palestinian state. But he believes it can only happen if the conditions are met, including Israel’s security and the release of hostages.”

Speaking to cabinet colleagues, Starmer said it had been the Government’s longstanding position that recognition of a Palestinian state was an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state as part of a process to peace and a two-state solution.

He said that because of the situation in Gaza, now was the right time to move the position forward, adding that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, 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. He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that UK 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 also committed to making an assessment ahead of the next General Assembly of the United Nations on how far the parties have met these steps before making a final decision, ensuring that no one side will have a veto. He reiterated he had taken this action to protect the viability of the two state solution, that the immediate focus must be to get more aid urgently into Gaza, and that work would continue to bring allies on board with the plan that delivers a long-term settlement to the conflict.

The news comes less than 24 hours after face-to-face talks between Starmer and US President Donald Trump and in the wake of the UK calling a halt to negotiations on a free trade agreement and placing sanctions on two far-right ministers.

Macron’s declaration of his intention to recognise Palestine late last week was met by fury by Jerusalem, amid threats of reciprocal measures.