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Britain will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September unless Israel takes meaningful action to improve the situation in Gaza and commit to a long-term peace process, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told his cabinet.
In a statement issued on Tuesday following an emergency cabinet meeting, Downing Street said Starmer had made it clear that the UK would move ahead with recognition before the United Nations General Assembly convenes—unless Israel meets a series of conditions.
According to the statement, these include an end to what Starmer described as the “appalling situation” in Gaza, agreement on a ceasefire, a clear commitment that there will be no annexation of the West Bank, and genuine engagement in a peace process aimed at delivering a viable two-state solution.
“He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” the statement added. “Our demands on Hamas remain unchanged: they must release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, accept they will not have a role in governing Gaza, and disarm.”
The prime minister recalled ministers from their summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new peace initiative being developed in coordination with European leaders, as well as efforts to step up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, where conditions continue to deteriorate.
The UK has historically supported the principle of a two-state solution but has stopped short of recognising a Palestinian state, maintaining that such a move would come at the “right time.” Starmer’s announcement marks the first instance of a British government attaching a firm timetable and clear conditions to that decision.
Mounting pressure within Starmer’s own Labour Party is believed to have influenced the move. As the Israeli bombardment in Gaza deepens, an increasing number of Labour MPs have called on the prime minister to take decisive action by recognising Palestinian statehood—a step they hope will increase diplomatic pressure on Israel to change course.
