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Sir Keir Starmer is expected on Sunday to confirm Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state, as Israel intensifies military action in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
The long-anticipated move, criticised by the US and Israel, will see Britain join other countries including France, Canada and Australia in formally recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this week.
The UK prime minister announced his plan to take the historic step in July after French President Emmanuel Macron said he would make the move. The British premier was under huge pressure from his Labour MPs to follow suit.
Starmer is expected to make the announcement in a video message on Sunday, while deputy prime minister David Lammy will represent Britain at the UN in New York to formalise the move.
Starmer said in July that Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state would go ahead unless Israel met a number of “conditions”, including a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term peace that delivered a two-state solution.
There was little expectation in Britain that Israel would meet those demands and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government since has launched a military assault on Gaza City and settlement activity on the West Bank has escalated.
Lammy said: “The recognition of a Palestinian state is as a consequence of the serious expansion that we’re seeing in the West Bank, the settler violence that we’re seeing in the West Bank, and the intention and indications that we’re seeing to build for example the E1 development that would run a coach and horses through the possibility of a two-state solution.”
The proposed block of about 3,000 houses, known colloquially as the E1 Plan, has been repeatedly floated by successive rightwing Israeli governments.
About 150 UN members already recognise a Palestinian state. France, Canada, and the UK would be the first G7 states to do so.
There are concerns in London that the expansion of settlements in the West Bank could make the creation of a Palestinian state unviable.
But Starmer is also expected to stress that Hamas can play no role in a two-state solution and step up calls for the release of Israeli hostages. New sanctions against Hamas could also be announced by Britain.
Many Labour MPs wanted Starmer to move much more quickly and decisively in criticising Israel over its offensive in Gaza and to recognise a Palestinian state.
“For lots of Labour voters, particularly Muslim voters, our response to the situation in Gaza has triggered a real break with the party,” one cabinet minister told the Financial Times. “And we shouldn’t expect them to come back.”
