Starmer’s ultimatum to Israel: Stop the war or UK will recognize a Palestinian state

If the U.K. makes this move, it would be the second G7 country after France to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that he would join France in recognizing a Palestinian state at the U.N. Security Council in September if Israel does not end the war in Gaza.

If the U.K. makes this move, it would be the second G7 country after France to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Although such recognition is only symbolic and has little real-world application, the goal behind the move would be to further alienate Israel diplomatically.

Around 250 MPs, including those from Starmer’s Labour Party, signed a letter urging the prime minister to push for a two-state solution amid international media allegations of starvation in Gaza.

In an address to the British public, Starmer said, “I’ve always said that we will recognize a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution. With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”

He demanded that Israel submit to a permanent cease-fire, take humanitarian measures to assist Gazan civilians, allow the complete transfer of aid into the Gaza Strip and agree not to annex Judea and Samaria.

Starmer also made demands of Hamas and said it would have no part in the governance of a Palestinian state.

In his address, Starmer said, “Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal. They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a cease-fire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.”

Last week, Emmanuel Macron became the first G7 leader to recognize a Palestinian state and pledged that he would make the formal declaration at the U.N. Security Council meeting in September.

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, co-chaired a U.N. conference on the establishment of a Palestinian state.