But PM firm on Palestine pledge

KEIR Starmer has insisted Britain is steadfast in its commitment to getting hostages released amid pressure over his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state.

- BY LIZZY BUCHAN

The Prime Minister said yesterday he was listening to concerns from hostages, after British-Israeli woman Emily Damari, who was held captive by Hamas, accused him of “moral failure’.

But he said yesterday: “We need to do everything we can to alleviate the human catastrophe in Gaza”.

On Tuesday, Starmer said the UK would recognise Palestine before the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel agreed to certain conditions, including taking steps to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and committing to a ceasefire.