UK will recognise state of Palestine unless Israel ends 'appalling situation' in Gaza

Britain will recognise the state of Palestine within weeks unless Israel ends the “appalling situation in Gaza”, Sir Keir Starmer announced yesterday, signalling what would be a historic shift in UK foreign policy following the humanitarian crisis in the territory.

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

After recalling senior ministers for an emergency cabinet meeting, the prime minister said “now was the right time to move this position” on the two-state solution. In an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Sir Keir said the UK could recognise Palestine as early as the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution.

There was applause at the UN in New York as foreign secretary David Lammy conveyed what could be a historic turning point, more than a century after Britain’s role in the creation of modern-day Israel. But Israel immediately dismissed the statement as “a reward for Hamas”.

Mr Netanyahu claimed the announcement: “Rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism.” In a statement on X, he added: “A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.”