Cabinet ministers pressure Starmer for UK to recognise state of Palestine

Keir Starmer is under pressure from cabinet ministers for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine as a state as the international outcry grows over Israel's killing of starving civilians in Gaza.

- Pippa Crerar

The prime minister is understood to have been urged by a number of senior ministers in recent months that the UK should take a leading role in issuing recognition.

The UK plans to formally acknowledge Palestine as part of a peace process but only in conjunction with other western countries and "at the point of maximum impact" - without saying what that would be.

However, there has been a growing sense of desperation and horror inside the cabinet over Israel's killing of starving Palestinian civilians in Gaza and its attacks on humanitarian efforts in recent weeks.

"We say that recognising Palestinian statehood is a really important symbol that you can only do once. But if not now, then when?" said one cabinet minister.

Earlier this month, nearly 60 Labour MPs demanded the UK immediately recognises Palestine as a state after Israel's defence minister announced plans to force all residents of Gaza into a camp on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah.

Israel is facing intensifying international condemnation for its actions in Gaza, with the UN secretary general, António Guterres, warning that the "last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing".