UK may recognise Palestine if Israel rejects ceasefire: Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday warned that the United Kingdom will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes tangible steps to end the war in Gaza and pursue lasting peace.

During a rare Cabinet meeting held amid the summer recess, Starmer told ministers that Britain would move to recognise Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly unless the Israeli government agrees to a ceasefire, allows unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza, pledges not to annex any part of the West Bank, and commits to a credible peace process based on a two-state solution.

Starmer also outlined key conditions for Hamas, including the immediate release of all remaining hostages, acceptance of a ceasefire, full disarmament, and a pledge not to participate in Gaza’s future governance.

In a televised address, the prime minister stated that the UK would assess progress on these demands in September before making its final decision regarding formal recognition.

While Britain has historically supported a two-state solution, it has maintained that recognition of a Palestinian state should be part of a negotiated peace agreement. However, calls for unilateral recognition have grown louder, especially after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would become the first major Western country to recognise Palestine in September.

More than 250 Members of Parliament have already signed a letter urging the UK government to move forward with recognising Palestinian statehood.

Despite tying recognition to specific conditions, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s position, stating that “statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.”