UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza
The British Prime Minister recalled the Government from their summer recess to discuss the situation.
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According to a readout of the Cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street, 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 British Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza.
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Why is UK preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood?
Keir Starmer is preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood as soon as September unless Israel meets key conditions, including reaching a ceasefire and committing to a long-term peace process. The prime minister's announcement on Tuesday marked a significant shift in the UK's longstanding position that it would recognise Palestine as part of a peace process at the point of maximum impact. Downing Street said Starmer would decide the extent to which Israel and Hamas had met his conditions before he made a decision beforethe UN general assembly in September. This is the first time the government has set concrete conditions and a timeline for recognition of a Palestinian state. Recognition is a symbolic step but one that would infuriate the Israeli government, which argues that it would encourage Hamas and reward terrorism. 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