British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel moves towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
As reported by PTI, [In an address from 10 Downing Street, Starmer also asked Hamas to immediately release all the Israeli hostages taken on October 7, sign up to an immediate ceasefire and commit to disarmament as well as accept that it will play no part in the government of Gaza.
“I’ve 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,” said Starmer.
With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act. So today as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognise the State of Palestine by the UN 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, he said.
The British Prime Minister said his appeal includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal. They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza, he said.
Israel rejected Prime Minister Starmer’s statement, saying that the shift in the British government’s position constitutes a reward for Hamas.
“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,” Israel Foreign Ministry said on social media.
