PM makes historic move to recognise Palestinian state

Keir Starmer will take the historic step of recognising Palestine today after ministers concluded the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave has deteriorated amid Israel's assault on Gaza City.

- KATE DEVLIN

Weeks after he laid down the gauntlet to Israel, saying it had to meet demands including a ceasefire, he will announce the UK has no choice but to formally recognise Palestinian statehood.

The move is set to spark a diplomatic row, with the US claiming that it “rewards Hamas” and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning it as “appeasement towards jihadist terrorists”.

But as Israeli strikes continue to bombard Gaza City, killing at least 14 people overnight on Friday, according to health officials, other nations, including Canada, are also expected to recognise Palestinian statehood in the coming days.

Labour pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in its manifesto before the last general election, and earlier this year, Sir Keir bowed to growing pressure from his own MPs, including some high-profile members of his cabinet, to lay out a plan to make the historic move.

The PM suggested British recognition would be conditional, and he would refrain if Israel committed to a ceasefire, a two-state solution to peace, and halted annexation of the West Bank.