Starmer says UK will recognise Palestinian state at UNGA unless Israel agrees Gaza ceasefire
London, Jul 29 (PTI): British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday said the UK will recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel moves towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
In an address from 10 Downing Street, Starmer also asked Hamas to immediately release all the Israeli hostages taken on October 7, sign up to an immediate ceasefire and commit to disarmament as well as accept that it will play no part in the government of Gaza.
“I’ve always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,” said Starmer.
“With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act. So today as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognise the State of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution,” he said.
The British Prime Minister said his appeal includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
“Meanwhile, our message to the Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal. They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza,” he said.
He reiterated that an assessment will be made in September of how far the parties have met its conditions, “but no one should have a veto over our decision”.
Starmer noted that he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump during their talks in Scotland on Monday, paving the way for a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back into Gaza.
“Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. But right now that goal is under pressure like never before,” he said.
He stressed that the Palestinian people have “endured terrible suffering”, with Gaza the scene of “starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime”.
“Suffering must end,” Starmer said, adding that the UK’s “primary aim” was “to change the situation on the ground for people who desperately need change”.
The address preceded Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s statement presenting the UK’s stance at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
The development follows French President Emmanuel Macron's decision earlier, making France the first G7 country and Permanent Member of the UN Security Council to announce his decision to recognise the state of Palestine to pile on pressure on Israel amid the Middle East conflict.
My statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and our plan for peace including the recognition of a Palestinian State. pic.twitter.com/aMUCNwJb9z
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 29, 2025
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US VP JD Vance says Lebanon not part of ceasefire, calls it ‘misunderstanding’
Budapest/Washington: US Vice President J D Vance has said that Lebanon was never included in the ceasefire understanding with Iran, describing the confusion as a “legitimate misunderstanding”.
Speaking to reporters before departing from Hungary, Vance said, “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t. We never made that promise.”
He stressed that the United States had not included Lebanon in the scope of the ceasefire at any stage.
His remarks come amid continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where more than 200 people were reported killed, even as ceasefire talks between Iran and the US move forward.
Vance said Israel had “offered … to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful”.
He warned that if Iran allows the situation in Lebanon to affect the negotiations, it could derail the talks.
“If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice,” he said.
