Keir Starmer has announced the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state. "Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly - as prime minister of this great country - that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine," he says in a video statement.
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You can listen to him on his social media:
"Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine," he said.
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Also on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cpw1qkyke4nt#player
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Starmer urges Israel to stop 'cruel tactics' and let 'aid surge in' as he warns hope of a two state solution is 'fading'
Starmer continued: "We have evacuated the first group of sick and injured children to the United Kingdom to be treated by the NHS, and we continue to increase our humanitarian support, but still nowhere near enough aid is getting through. We call again on the Israeli government to lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border, stop these cruel tactics, and let the aid surge in. With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two state solution is fading. But we cannot let that light go out.
"That is why we are building consensus with leaders in the region and beyond, around our framework for peace. This is a practical plan to bring people together behind a common vision and a series of steps, including the reform of the Palestinian Authority, that takes us from a ceasefire in Gaza to negotiations on a two state solution. We will keep driving this forward. As part of this effort I set out in July the terms upon which we would act in line with our manifesto to recognise Palestinian statehood. That moment has now arrived.
"So today, to revive the hope of peace and a two state solution, I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine. We recognise the State of Israel, more than 75 years ago, as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also, a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future. I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes."
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Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty’s crisis response manager, has welcomed Starmer’s announcement, but said it will be a “hollow gesture” if the British government does not to take stronger action to help end Israel’s “genocide” against Palestinians.
Benedict said:
"Recognition is no doubt significant but will be a hollow gesture if the UK does not also seek to end Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation, and system of apartheid against the Palestinian people. For recognition or any ‘political solution’ to be effective, it must be firmly rooted in respect for human rights and international justice.
The UK needs to take action now to ensure Israel lifts the blockade on Gaza, dismantles illegal settlements, ends apartheid, respects Palestinians’ right to return, and upholds the rights of victims on all sides to justice and full reparation.
"Words alone won’t stop the atrocities. Recognition must be tied to real accountability: the UK must halt UK arms exports, divest from arms companies that continue to sell arms to Israel, sanction Israeli officials implicated in crimes under international law and stop trade with settlements. The occupation and apartheid system must be ended, and justice must be delivered – anything less while Palestinians continue to be slaughtered by Israeli forces in an ongoing genocide is just empty words."
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Palestinian President Says UK Recognition A Step Toward 'Lasting Peace'
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Sunday that Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state was a necessary step toward lasting peace in the region.
"His excellency praised the United Kingdom's recognition of the independent State of Palestine, affirming that it constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy," Abbas's office said in a statement.
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Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said Western countries are motivated by a desire to be seen to be doing something, but will not stop the genocide in Gaza.
“I think they’re under increasing pressure from the international community and also from their local populations to do something,” he told Al Jazeera.
“This is, I think, their way of doing something or saying that they did something without actually taking substantive action.”
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Later on Sunday, Portugal also recognised Palestine.
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