Starmer set to recognize Palestine as early as Sunday
Britain to officially recognize Palestine (Getty Images)
The United Kingdom has announced its intention to recognize Palestine as a state. The decision is linked to the escalation in the Middle East and the lack of progress in resolving the conflict, according to the British outlet Sky News.
London has confirmed its readiness to officially recognize Palestine. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the decision on Sunday. Back in July, he said such a move would become inevitable if Israel failed to meet several conditions.
According to the British prime minister, his cabinet is demanding that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government take specific steps: halt the escalation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, secure long-term peace arrangements, restore humanitarian deliveries via the UN, and abandon plans to annex the West Bank.
Israel's reaction
Israel’s Foreign Ministry firmly rejected London’s statement. Netanyahu stressed that, in his view, "Starmer is rewarding Hamas’s horrific terrorism and punishing its victims."
Escalation in Gaza
The situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate. Ceasefire talks have produced no results, famine has been reported in Gaza City, and fighting has spread.
Israeli forces have launched a large-scale ground offensive aimed at taking full control of the city and eliminating Hamas. The operation has drawn global criticism. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as "utterly reckless and appalling."
It should be recalled that Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel recently told a parliamentary committee that the country intends to officially recognize Palestine, framing the move as part of Luxembourg’s foreign policy course in support of a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has urged his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot not to pursue unilateral recognition of Palestine, warning that if such a step is taken, President Emmanuel Macron would lose the opportunity to visit Israel.
