British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless Israel takes urgent action to halt its military assault on Gaza and commits to a sustainable peace.
Speaking outside Downing Street on Tuesday following an emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza, Starmer outlined a series of conditions the Israeli government must meet to avoid the recognition. These include: agreeing to a ceasefire, ending the humanitarian blockade, committing to a two-state solution, allowing the UN to resume the delivery of aid, and halting annexations in the West Bank.
“This is the moment to act,” Starmer said. “With that solution now under threat, 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.”
The announcement follows mounting pressure from within British Parliament and Starmer’s own party. Over 200 Members of Parliament, more than half of them Labour, had urged the government to immediately recognise a Palestinian state. Among them was Labour MP Emily Thornberry, Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.
France announced last week that it would recognise Palestine in September, becoming the first G7 nation to do so. Ireland, Spain and Norway made similar declarations last year.
Starmer’s speech came just a day after his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, and amidst continued international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand: Images that will stay with us for a lifetime,” Starmer said, calling the current situation a “catastrophic failure of aid”.
The Israeli government responded swiftly, rejecting the UK’s statement as “a reward for Hamas” and accusing Starmer of bowing to political pressure. “The shift in the British government’s position at this time... constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza,” said Israel’s foreign ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went further in his criticism, accusing Starmer of “appeasement” and warning that “a jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow.”
In his speech however, Starmer reaffirmed that the UK continues to condemn Hamas and demands that it release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, and accept it will play no role in Gaza’s future governance. “Our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal,” he stated.
“They must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.”
The British Prime Minister concluded by saying, “No one should have a veto on our decision... This is the way forward.”
Starmer’s announcement marks a potential turning point in UK foreign policy and adds to growing international momentum toward recognising Palestinian statehood, especially as Israel faces mounting allegations of genocide.
