UK will recognise Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to 'immediate ceasefire'

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom is ready to officially recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September — unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and initiates impactful steps toward peace and humanitarian aid.

Starmer’s announcement came on Tuesday amid growing outrage over images of starving children in Gaza and mounting pressure within his own party. "The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering," he told reporters.

"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 added.

If the UK follows through, it will become the second Western member of the UN Security Council after France to officially recognise a Palestinian state. This would deepen Israel’s diplomatic isolation over its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

UK'S CONDITIONS FOR RECOGNITION

The UK’s move is conditional. Starmer said Britain will only move forward if Israel does not show clear action by September. That includes easing humanitarian access to Gaza, publicly ruling out the annexation of the West Bank, and committing to a peace process based on a two-state solution.

Starmer said the British government will review progress made by all parties before finalising its decision. “We will assess how far the parties have met these steps,” he said. “But no one will have a veto over our decision.”

He had earlier held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the news agency Reuters.

Israel responded quickly to Starmer’s comments. Its Foreign Ministry posted on X, saying the UK’s decision amounted to a "reward for Hamas" and would damage any chance of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Starmer’s statement comes just a day after his meeting in Scotland with US President Donald Trump, who reportedly told him he did "not mind" if Britain went ahead to recognise Palestine. However, the United States -- Israel’s closest ally -- has consistently avoided recognising a Palestinian state.

LABOUR PARTY'S STANCE ON PALESTINE

The UK prime minister's position marks a sharp turnaround from last week, when he disappointed many in his Labour Party by stating that the time was not yet right for recognition.

The shift also comes against the backdrop of frustration in Britain over Israel’s conduct in the war. Starmer recalled his cabinet from the summer break to discuss a new European-led peace proposal and measures to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.

Britain has long held the position that it would recognise Palestine only "when the time is right," but it had never before attached a specific timeline or clear conditions.

France announced last week it would recognise Palestine as a state based on 1967 borders, which drew strong criticism from both Israel and the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the French decision "reckless."

China and Russia are the only other permanent members of the UN Security Council to have recognised Palestine.

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With inputs from Reuters