UK STATES ITS TERMS

PM to recognise Palestine unless Israel stops slaughter, He demands ceasefire and Hamas must release hostages

- ASHLEY COWBURN and DAVE BURKE

WITH Gaza on the brink of famine and the death toll now past 60,000, Keir Starmer last night piled the pressure on Israel to end the slaughter by declaring Britain will recognise Palestine as a state.

The PM warned his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that he will make the move in September unless Jerusalem agrees to certain terms, including a ceasefire in the Strip.

Starmer also demanded Hamas free all hostages and disarm in exchange for state recognition which would establish diplomatic relations between the UK and Palestine.

But Foreign Secretary David Lammy seemed to suggest the move would go ahead anyway.

And First Minister John Swinney said recognition of Palestine should be “irreversible”, adding: “It must not be conditional and must be backed by sanctions against Israel if the violence continues.”

Starmer spoke to Netanyahu on the phone last night - as UN-backed experts said “the worst-case scenario of famine” was playing out in Gaza. But Israel accused the PM of “rewarding Hamas”. Starmer yesterday summoned ministers back from Parliament's summer recess for an emergency Cabinet meeting.

He told them a “catastrophic failure of aid” has meant Gazans are enduring terrible suffering and added: “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand. The suffering must end.

“I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.

“This includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear there will be no West Bank annexations.