Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will recognise Palestine as a state by the United Nations meeting in September, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.
The Government said previously said that they would not do so if Israel agreed to a two-state solution
The recognition of Palestine is conditional – and will go ahead unless Israeli government takes “substantive steps” to end “appalling” situation in Gaza,reaches a ceasefire and makes clear there will be no annexation in West Bank
Israel must also commit to a long-term peace process.
Starmer also said that Hamas mustrelease all hostages,disarm, sign up to a ceasefire
and accept that they would play no role in the government of Gaza.
In a statement released Starmer said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward,”
The announcement comes following weeks of mounting pressure from within Labour, including interventions from cabinet members, and a letter signed by more than 100 Labour MPs
