British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza,” as well as meeting other conditions.
“I have always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,” Starmer said in press briefing after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
“I can confirm the UK will recognize 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, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.”
Starmer convened the meeting one day after the UK leader said the British public are “revolted” by images of people starving in Gaza, speaking alongside US President Donald Trump in Scotland.
Starmer has been facing mounting pressure from within his Labour party to take a tougher line on Israel, made more acute after French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement that France would recognize a Palestinian state in September, becoming the first G7 country to do so.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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