UK Foreign Office explains push to recognize Palestine: aimed at pressuring Israel
Photo: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Getty Images)
The UK government's decision to consider recognizing Palestine as a state is intended to put pressure on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza.
This was stated by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, according to his remarks at the UN headquarters.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that London’s consideration of recognizing Palestine aims to influence the situation on the ground and reduce the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza. He expressed hope that these efforts would lead to a significant decrease in civilian hardship and demonstrate a commitment to a ceasefire.
Responding to a question about whether US President Donald Trump had been informed of the decision, Lammy noted that while the UK maintains a special relationship with Washington, no country holds veto power over the major decisions made by the United Kingdom.
He also emphasized that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a two-state solution is not only morally wrong but also a strategic mistake.
Background
Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would recognize the State of Palestine in September if Israel fails to end its military operations in Gaza and abandon annexation plans.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by accusing Starmer of encouraging Hamas terrorism and warned that such a move would ultimately pose a threat to Britain itself. According to his statement on social media platform X, a jihadist state on Israel’s border today would threaten the UK tomorrow.
