Starmer: Cease fire or we will recognise Palestine

SIR Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise an independent state of Palestine in September whether Israel agrees or not.

- By Jonathan Walker Whitehall Editor

The Prime Minister declared yesterday that the “terrible suffering” in Gaza and decades-long war in the region must end.

It came as he bowed to pressure from MPs of all parties, setting out plans to recognise Palestine unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and long-term peace process.

A final decision will be made before a United Nations meeting on September 9.

Sir Keir said: “In Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy later launched a broadside against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his refusal to accept the creation of a Palestinian state was “wrong morally and it’s wrong strategically”. But Israel last night said it “rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom”.

Mr Netanyahu said: “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.”