Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to finish the “appalling situation” in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet on Tuesday in line with a government statement.
“He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to finish the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there might be no annexation within the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution,” the statement said.
“He reiterated that there isn’t any equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they have to release all of the hostages, enroll to a ceasefire, accept that they may play no role in the federal government of Gaza, and disarm.”
Starmer took the choice after recalling his cabinet throughout the summer holidays on Tuesday to debate a brand new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how one can deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Get each day National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Successive British governments have said they may formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is true, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the needed conditions.
With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer’s Labour Party have asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to place pressure on Israel.
—Reporting by William James, writing by Muvija M; editing by Andrew MacAskill