UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps’ over Gaza
Earlier, Mr Starmer recalled his government from their summer recess to discuss the situation. File Picture: Chris Furlong/PA
The UK will recognise the state of Palestine “in September” unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the “appalling situation in Gaza”, British prime minister Keir Starmer has said.
Earlier, Mr Starmer recalled his government from their summer recess to discuss the situation.
According to a readout of the cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street, Mr Starmer told ministers “now was the right time to move this position” on the two-state solution.
The read out went on: “He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward.
“He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.”
It comes after the UK prime minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza.
