SIR Keir Starmer has vowed Britain will formally recognise Palestine by September unless Israel halts the bloodshed in Gaza.
The PM issued the blunt ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu after an emergency Cabinet meeting and under mounting pressure from Labour ministers and MPs.
GettyPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street[/caption]
Foreign Secretary David LammyPA
But the Israeli Government and political rivals blasted the move as reckless – warning the move risks rewarding Hamas for its terror attacks.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “The shift in the British Government’s position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages.”
A Reform UK spokesperson added: “Recognising Palestine as a state does little more than reward Hamas for their actions on October 7.
“This decision is being made at the wrong time and is a knee jerk reaction by Keir Starmer to appease the hard left forces inside and outside of his party.”
Sir Keir told ministers the situation was now “increasingly intolerable”, with horrifying scenes of starving children and hospitals overwhelmed.
And in a televised address, he declared: “I have always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution.“With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”
He said the UK would recognise Palestine ahead of September’s UN General Assembly unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows humanitarian aid into Gaza, halts West Bank annexation plans, and commits to serious peace talks.
The PM also said the UK would assess progress before the summit but warned no one side would be allowed to block the decision.
The announcement follows weeks of intense pressure from across Labour, with several top ministers and dozens of backbenchers pushing for action.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy today also set out Britain’s position at a two-state summit in New York.
He said the devastation in Gaza was “heartbreaking” and that Israel limiting aid to the region had “horrified the world”.
Amid global alarm over famine conditions, Israel announced at the weekend it would suspend fighting in three areas for 10 hours a day and open safe routes for aid.
The UK is taking part in coordinated aid drops, though agencies have warned the new steps still fall far short of what is needed to stop starvation.
Sir Keir, speaking alongside Donald Trump at Turnberry on Monday, said the British people were “revolted” by the images from Gaza.
The US President suggested peace talks had hit a snag, saying Hamas had become “very difficult to deal with” as they now held only a small number of Israeli hostages.
Sir Keir has started working with France and Germany on a plan to “bring about a lasting peace” in the Middle East – and shared the details with President Trump during their meeting in Scotland.
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