Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps towards a long-term peace.
He told ministers Britain will recognise a state of Palestine before the United Nations 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 delivering a two state solution.
His ultimatum comes as the death toll in Gaza passed 60,000 on Tuesday (July 29) and the world’s leading authority on food crises said the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in the territory of over two million people.
The Israeli government, commenting on social media, added: “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 hostages”.
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Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK bears a “special burden of responsibility” to support the two-state solution as he announced the UK’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in New York.
He told a United Nations conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “The situation on the ground continues to worsen and the two-state solution is in peril.” Mr Lammy called Israel’s rejection of a two-state solution morally and strategically wrong.
Britain’s top diplomat said: “The Netanyahu government’s rejection of a two-state solution is wrong. It’s wrong morally and it’s wrong strategically.”
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said Sir Keir’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September is designed to appease his backbenchers.
She said: “We all support a two-state solution that guarantees security for both Israelis and Palestinians, but recognition of a Palestinian state is only meaningful if it is part of a formal peace process, and cannot happen while hostages are still being held in terrorist captivity and while Hamas’ reign of terror continues.
“The Government’s immediate focus must be helping to find a sustainable end to the current terrible conflict, securing the release of the hostages and getting more aid into Gaza.”