‘Bare minimum' of aid trucks coming into Gaza right now : Aid Group Leader
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Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
When will the UK recognise Palestine and what does that mean?
Prime minister Keir Starmer said the UK would recognise Palestine by the time of the UN General Assembly meeting in September. The UK government has said it believes its plans to recognise Palestine as a state is compliant with international law, despite warnings from lawyers to the contrary. On Tuesday, 29 July, prime minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK could take the step of recognising a Palestinian state ahead of a gathering at the UN later this year. He said that the UK will only refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. However, former hostages and their families criticised Starmer's announcement on Wednesday, 30 July, while some 38 members of the House of Lords, including some of the UK's most eminent lawyers, have written to attorney general Lord Hermer, warning him that it could be in contravention of international law. As first reported by The Times, the peers warned Starmer's pledge to recognise Palestine may breach international law as the territory may not meet the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, a treaty signed in 1933. But, asked whether recognising Palestine is compliant with international law, business minister Gareth Thomas told Times Radio on Thursday, 31 July: 'Yes, we believe it is. 'In the end, recognition of another state is a political judgement and over 140 countries have already recognised Palestine.' When will the UK recognise a Palestinian state? Starmer announced the UK will recognise a Palestinian state by September at the UN General Assembly, unless Israel meets specific conditions. These conditions include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term peace process for a two-state solution. The decision follows intense domestic pressure, with many from Starmer's Labour Party urging immediate recognition. Starmer cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a key reason for the timing. The UK's move aligns with France, which also plans to recognise Palestine in September. What does it mean? Recognising a Palestinian state means the UK would formally acknowledge Palestinian self-determination, without addressing practical issues like borders or governance. This symbolic act could lead to diplomatic changes, such as establishing a Palestinian embassy in London. However, it does not imply recognition of Hamas – which governs Gaza and is a proscribed a terrorist group in the UK – but rather the Palestinian Authority (which maintains administrative control of the West Bank) as the state's representative. The move aims to strengthen Palestine's global standing and pressure Israel to negotiate. Practically, little would change on the ground due to Israel's rejection of a Palestinian state. However, it could prompt the UK to review trade and agreements with Israel to align with Palestinian rights. Recognising Palestine could also be a diplomatic tool to push for a two-state solution, despite Israel's opposition. The UK's decision could inspire other nations to follow, with Canada being the latest country to say it will follow suit, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel. However, without US support, full UN membership for Palestine remains unlikely due to a potential US veto. How many countries have recognised Palestine? As of March this year, 147 of the 193 UN member states, about 75%, recognise a Palestinian state. This includes most countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, along with some in Europe. Last year, nine countries – Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados – formally recognised Palestine. Among the G20, 10 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, and Spain, recognise Palestine, while nine, including the US and Germany, do not. The EU as a whole does not recognise Palestine, with varied stances among members. Recognition began in 1988 as a result of efforts by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to have the State of Palestine recognised, with 78 countries acknowledging it by the end of the year. How has Israel responded? Israel's government, led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned Starmer's announcement as a 'reward for Hamas's monstrous terrorism'. Israel argues that such a move encourage Hamas and harms ceasefire efforts. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the UK's decision undermines negotiations and legitimises terrorism. Netanyahu has long rejected a two-state solution, while Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Damon, called the recognition 'hypocrisy' and a distraction from securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. In response to earlier recognitions by Spain, Ireland and Norway in 2024, Israel recalled its ambassadors and vowed to expand West Bank settlements. Israel maintains that unilateral recognition violates the Oslo Accords, which require mutual negotiations for statehood. It insists that a Palestinian state would threaten its security, especially after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PM says he ‘particularly' listens to hostages after Palestine backlash
Sir Keir Starmer has said that he 'particularly' listens to hostages after a British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas criticised his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state. The Prime Minister said there is a 'need to do everything we can to alleviate the human catastrophe in Gaza' after Emily Damari accused him of 'moral failure' over the move. Ms Damari said that Sir Keir is 'not standing on the right side of history' and that she was 'deeply saddened' by the decision. As well as Ms Damari's criticism, Wednesday also saw a group of peers warn that the pledge could break international law. Speaking to ITV West Country while on a visit to Swindon on Thursday, the Prime Minister said: 'I particularly listen to the hostages, Emily Damari, who I have spoken to, – I've met her mother a number of times, and they've been through the most awful, awful experience for Emily and for her mother. 'And that's why I've been absolutely clear and steadfast that we must have the remaining hostages released. That's been our position throughout and I absolutely understand the unimaginable horror that Emily went through. 'Alongside that, we do need to do everything we can to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where we are seeing the children and babies starving for want of aid which could be delivered. 'That is why I've said unless things materially change on the ground, we'll have to assess this in September, we will recognise Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly in September.' It comes as some 38 members of the House of Lords, including some of the UK's most eminent lawyers, wrote to Attorney General Lord Hermer. As first reported by the Times newspaper, the peers warned Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to recognise Palestine may breach international law as the territory may not meet the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, a treaty signed in 1933. Business minister Gareth Thomas described the decision as a 'political judgment' and said ministers 'believe it is' compliant with international law. He told Times Radio 'In the end, recognition of another state is a political judgment and over 140 countries have already recognised Palestine, and we're determined to do so in September if Israel does not end the violence in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and agree to a lasting route towards a two-state solution, and to no annexation in the West Bank.' In their letter to Lord Hermer, the peers said Palestine 'does not meet the international law criteria for recognition of a state, namely, defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states'. There is no certainty over the borders of Palestine, they said, and no single government as Hamas and Fatah are enemies. In their letter, seen by the PA news agency, the peers added: 'You have said that a selective, 'pick and mix' approach to international law will lead to its disintegration, and that the criteria set out in international law should not be manipulated for reasons of political expedience. 'Accordingly, we expect you to demonstrate this commitment by explaining to the public and to the Government that recognition of Palestine would be contrary to the principles governing recognition of states in international law.' Lord Hermer has previously insisted a commitment to international law 'goes absolutely to the heart' of the Government's approach to foreign policy. Sir Keir announced earlier this week that the UK could take the step of recognising Palestine in September ahead of a gathering at the UN. The UK will only refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months, the Prime Minister said.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising Gaza death toll of Palestinians seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — President Donald Trump's special envoy arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the disintegrating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll from deadly incidents involving Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb. At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while attempting to get aid in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This includes 54 people killed in shootings in a deadly incident with aid in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing on Wednesday, the ministry said. The toll is expected to rise further as many of those killed or wounded were brought to isolated, smaller hospitals in northern Gaza and have not yet been counted.
