UK Signals Possible Recognition of Palestinian State Amid Gaza Conflict

The United Kingdom may formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes additional steps to address the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday.

Starmer stated that the UK's objective is "a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state," emphasizing that recognition would be intended as a contribution to the peace process and the two-state solution. He called on Israel to allow the United Nations to resume aid deliveries to Gaza, commit to a long-term peace, and halt any annexations in the West Bank. Starmer also reiterated the UK's position on Hamas, stating the group must release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept exclusion from Gaza's future governance.

Amid warnings from aid groups and the United Nations about the risk of famine in Gaza, Starmer urged for increased humanitarian access, saying, "We need to see at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day." He expressed support for mediation efforts led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to secure a sustainable ceasefire and a broader peace plan.

Israel has strongly criticized the UK's announcement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move "rewards Hamas' monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims," and warned that a Palestinian state on Israel's border could pose a future threat to Britain. Israel's Foreign Ministry also rejected the UK's stance, describing it as a response to international and domestic pressures that would undermine ceasefire efforts and the release of hostages.