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Starmer told his cabinet that Israel must agree to a ceasefire, halt plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and support a political pathway toward a two-state solution to avoid the UK’s recognition of Palestine ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “There is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” Starmer clarified, reiterating demands for Hamas to release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, relinquish control of Gaza’s governance, and disarm.
The prime minister interrupted ministers’ summer holidays to discuss a draft European-led peace initiative and plans to bolster humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of an impending famine. Starmer’s announcement comes amid growing pressure from within his Labour Party, with over half of its backbench MPs signing a letter urging formal recognition of Palestinian statehood as leverage to push Israel toward peace.
Speaking to reporters, Starmer described the decision as driven by the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and concerns that the prospect of a two-state solution is fading. “It’s done now because I’m particularly concerned that the idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many years,” he said. The recognition of Palestine forms part of an eight-point peace plan developed with European partners, following France’s recent decision to recognise Palestinian statehood, joining EU members Norway, Spain, and Ireland.
Labour MP Sarah Champion, who spearheaded the letter to Starmer, emphasized the urgency of the move, stating, “There will never be a perfect moment to recognise Palestinian statehood, but this might be the last chance.”
While previous UK governments have supported Palestinian statehood in principle, Starmer’s explicit deadline and preconditions represent a significant departure from past policy, reflecting mounting domestic and international calls to address the escalating crisis in Gaza.
