UK may recognise Palestine as a state amid Gaza crisis

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Britain is ready to recognise a Palestinian state in September during the United Nations General Assembly, as reported by Reuters on July 29th.

He made the announcement after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated he did “not mind” the move. The United States itself, Israel’s strongest ally, has consistently avoided recognition. However, even Trump, in a rare shift in language, said “those children look very hungry… that’s real starvation stuff,” according to the BBC on July 28th.

The shift in attitude from the US amid Trump’s presence is in the UK, alludes to the idea that Starmer felt greater licence to make the bold statement.

If the UK goes ahead with the move, it would become the second Western permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to commit to the state recognition, after France, signalling growing global isolation for Israel amid the Gaza war.

Starmer said the move will take place unless three demands are fulfilled; Israel needs to facilitate more aid into Gaza, renounce any plans to annex the West Bank, and dedicate itself to a long-term peace process that secures a “two-state solution.”

“The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,” Starmer said. “Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.” He spoke after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an unnamed source.

Israel’s foreign ministry responded by calling the UK’s move a “reward for Hamas,” warning it could damage prospects for a ceasefire. On the ground, a hunger monitor warned of famine in Gaza. The World Food Programme said it continued to face access barriers. Israel denied any campaign of starvation, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calling such claims “lies,” although he admitted conditions in Gaza remain “tough.”

Facing pressure from within his own party, Starmer reversed his earlier reluctance to support Palestinian state recognition. He reconvened with his cabinet to discuss a European-led peace initiative. The government will assess progress in September but insists no one will hold veto power.

Reuters, BBC, Maghrebi.org