Keir Starmer, leader of the UK Labour Party, recently shot a rocket. He stated that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state no later than September if Israel does not take substantial steps to ameliorate the desperate conditions in Gaza. He underscored the fact that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable, worsening each day, stressing that we can’t wait until it’s too late.
Starmer Hyatt convened an emergency cabinet meeting urgently to stop the UK government’s complicity and inaction on the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He said the British public is “revolted” by harrowing scenes of starvation and suffering coming from the area. Yet the scale of civilian death in Gaza has led to intense grassroots pressure from within his own party to take a harder line on Israel.
The Labour leader added that the window for a viable two-state solution is closing. He stated, “I’ve long said that we would welcome a Palestinian state in the context of a renewed peace process when it could best serve to improve the two-state solution.” President Obama has said that such recognition of Palestinian statehood would deepen and enrich future peace negotiations.
Even British Foreign Secretary David Lammy felt the need to confirm Starmer’s position. He added that recognition would only come with the condition that Israel ceases its military intervention in Gaza. Lammy stated, “There is no contradiction between support for Israel’s security and support for Palestinian statehood.” This takes a serious, dual-pronged approach that commits to both Israeli safety and Palestinian autonomy.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney welcomed Starmer’s announcement, emphasizing that Palestinian statehood “must not be conditional and must be backed by sanctions against Israel if the violence continues.” This sentiment encapsulates a broader desire for accountability across the region as violence has continued to intensify, especially in recent months.
Starmer’s announcement has drawn international attention, particularly following French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent declaration that France would recognize a Palestinian state in September. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot praised Starmer’s decision, stating that it “joins today in the momentum created by France for the recognition of the State of Palestine.”
Israel’s foreign ministry shot back with even greater vitriol. They criticized Starmer’s announcement as a victory for Hamas and argued that it undermines Labour’s attempts to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. They claimed that this type of recognition would poison any hope for negotiations to resolve the ongoing crisis.
