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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Tuesday that the UK is considering recognizing a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, unless Israel takes specific actions to improve conditions for Palestinians.
If Britain proceeds, it would be the second Western nation on the UN Security Council to do so after France last week. This move reflects Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has worsened and Palestinian fatalities have climbed above 60,000.
Starmer emphasized that Britain’s recognition would depend on Israel making meaningful efforts to increase aid to Gaza, refraining from annexing the West Bank, and committing to a long-term peace process aimed at establishing a two-state solution—Palestine living peacefully alongside Israel.
“The Palestinian people have suffered tremendously,” Starmer told reporters. “In Gaza, due to a disastrous failure to deliver aid, we see starving infants and children too frail to stand—images that will haunt us forever. The suffering must come to an end.”
He added that Britain would review the situation in September, evaluating how well the parties have met these conditions, and clarified that no veto power would stand in the way of the final decision.
The decision follows the cabinet’s recall from summer break on Tuesday to discuss a proposed peace initiative developed with other European leaders and ways to increase humanitarian aid for Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
Previous UK administrations have indicated they would recognize a Palestinian state at the appropriate time, without setting a specific timeline or conditions.
Amid warnings from international aid groups about starvation in Gaza, more members of Starmer’s Labour Party have pushed for recognition of Palestine to exert pressure on Israel.
The issue gained traction after French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Thursday that France would recognize Palestinian statehood in territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War.
Israel, a strong U.S. ally, condemned France’s move, accusing it of rewarding Hamas fighters in Gaza, whose attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, ignited the current conflict.
When the Gaza war began in October 2023, Starmer was the opposition leader and fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself. Since becoming Prime Minister over a year ago, his stance has hardened towards Israel, especially as the UK has taken steps such as dropping previous challenges to Israeli arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and suspending some weapons sales to Israel.
Last month, the UK imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians.
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